Analysts call for Al-Rawi’s removal | Local News

Two political analysts are of the view that Opposition Senator Faris Al-Rawi must be removed from the PNM’s Senate bench.

The Express spoke to Dr Winford James, who believes Al-Rawi should go and Opposition Senator Janelle John-Bates be spared, while Dr Maukesh Basdeo believes keeping both would be untenable.

At today’s Senate sitting, the Express understands a replacement is expected to be announced for Al-Rawi on the Privileges Committee.

Last Friday, Senate President Wade Mark referred Al-Rawi and John-Bates to the Privileges Committee following a motion from Government Minister David Nakhid over their involvement in assisting former health minister Terrence Deyalsingh in preparing a witness statement for the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC).

The Privileges Committee is chaired by Mark and comprises Attorney General John Jeremie, Government Senator Darrell Allahar, Independent Senator Michael Simon de la Bastide, SC, and Al-Rawi.

The Express understands that if the Privileges Committee finds John-Bates and Al-Rawi culpable, it can state this in its report, which will be submitted to the Senate. A suspension following a Privileges Committee report has no fixed duration under the Standing Orders—it lasts for whatever period the Senate approves by resolution.

James told the Express there appears to be a political tit-for-tat between the Government and the Opposition, with the PNM claiming bias against House Speaker Jagdeo Singh.

However, James noted that Al-Rawi, who is a former attorney general, and Senior Counsel, assisted Deyalsingh and ought to have known that he was implicating John-Bates.

“He has been around a long time and he’s a senior man in the party and in the law. And he should have known better and not imperilled the political career of Ms John-Bates. You could call her a neophyte. I’m not saying that she’s guilty or she’s not guilty of some indiscretion. But I think she should be given a second chance because she represents a younger generation in the PNM,” said James.

He said if PNM leader Pennelope Beckles takes action against John-Bates, it could backfire.

“But Al-Rawi has had all kinds of chances in politics. And now he seems to, rather than advising the young lady with respect to what she was doing, what he did was really imperil her as I said before,” he said.

James said he did not see Beckles’ delay in taking action as “weak” but as being careful.

James said Opposition Senator Melanie Roberts-Radgman was not put forward by the PNM Tobago Council, as he claimed that people in Tobago were being overlooked.

“And, really, the bias continues to be against PNM Tobago. PNM Trinidad is against PNM Tobago in terms of choices that are made. I am an onlooker. I watch what’s happening and I have a right to comment on it,” he said.

‘Clear pattern’

Meanwhile, Basdeo said both Al-Rawi and John-Bates were culpable, as the tracked changes in Deyalsingh’s witness statement proved that.

He further said that John-Bates admitted to the actions.

Basdeo said it was revealed in the debate of the PAAC report that the majority of the tracked changes were linked to Al-Rawi.

He also noted that the Joint Select Committee (JSC) on National Security refused to sit with John-Bates as a member, and last week Government Minister Jearlean John signalled that they do not want to sit on any committees with Al-Rawi.

“This sets a clear pattern now that the operations of the committee system in Parliament will be affected by the Leader of the Opposition’s delayed response on dealing with this matter,” he said.

Basdeo said although Al-Rawi was not directly related to the PAAC, John-Bates is his colleague and he was aware that this could constitute interference.

“Now his removal, or his substitution on the Privileges Committee is only natural because he is a member of this session of the committee. So, because the matter involves him, they would have to have a replacement Opposition member on the committee,” he said.