OPPOSITION MP Camille Robinson-Regis has defended Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles, saying she will act on Senator Janelle John-Bates when she is ready. She also criticised Government members, pointing out that Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar took no action regarding her own members who had questions to answer.
Robinson-Regis specifically named Housing Minister David Lee, whom she noted is out on bail; Energy Minister Roodal Moonilal, who is before the court; and Mayaro MP Nicholas Morris, whom she described as ‘Mr False Paper’.
‘Madam Deputy Speaker, we will not have them impugn our leader. When she is ready to act, she will act. All of them on that side have questions to answer!’ said Robinson- Regis.
She was speaking during Friday’s Parliament sitting in her contribution to a motion moved by Government Minister Saddam Hosein to adopt the Special Report of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC).
Robinson-Regis, a PAAC member, took issue with the Committee’s report, noting that she submitted a Minority Report authored by herself.
She said the PAAC report impugned the character of Senator John-Bates and failed to recognise other issues not addressed in the Majority Report.
Robinson-Regis said this was not the first time the House was dealing with a special committee report, recalling a Joint Select Committee (JSC) on National Security report concerning Moonilal and allegations of fraternising with criminal elements.
She said that report had called for Moonilal’s removal due to a ‘security risk’, but that then-opposition leader Persad-Bissessar took no action.
Tensions flared during her contribution as insults were traded across the floor.
After an insult about her bald head, she responded by referencing murdered businessman Danny Guerra and that he was bald.
‘One thing I know, Madam Speaker, is that I cannot be accused of murder,’ she quipped.
Robinson-Regis acknowledged that John-Bates commented on a witness’s document before it was formally submitted to the committee as evidence and ‘we all on this side agree was ill-advised. Madam Speaker, that we all on this side agree created the impression of partiality and it ought never to have occurred. All of us on this side agree that that is our position’.
She said John-Bates had been given an undertaking that the matter would be further ‘fleshed out’ on April 20 and that she would be given an opportunity to be heard, but that this did not occur.
Singh unfit
Quoting extensively from the Minority Report, Robinson-Regis took issue with the conduct of PAAC chairman Jagdeo Singh and what she described as an erosion of parliamentary standards under his leadership.
She said the conduct pointed to the introduction of material into the committee in a manner that blurred the line between evidence and advocacy.
The MP added that on too many occasions, committee members were uncertain whether the chairman was advocating on behalf of a particular group or attempting to adduce information.
She said it was ‘striking’ that Singh never informed the committee that he had previously advocated on behalf of private pharmaceutical companies.
Robinson-Regis said the rapid production of the PAAC Special Report created the appearance of a predetermined outcome rather than a balanced, evidence- based process.
She noted that the report advances the serious suggestion of conduct amounting to a conspiracy to commit contempt of Parliament while simultaneously indicating that the factual matrix need not be reported in detail.
Robinson-Regis said there had been a clear and troubling erosion of parliamentary standards within the committee under Singh.
She added that John-Bates had tendered her resignation and that a decision now rests with Beckles.
The MP said the Minority Report raises concerns about the tone of PAAC proceedings, the increasingly adversarial and partisan approach to questioning, and a departure from objectivity and procedural discipline.
She said Singh, as an attorney, had advocated on behalf of clients who raised concerns about the pharmaceutical importation and approval process.
Robinson-Regis referred to an Express article dated December 18, 2024, in which Singh spoke about complaints regarding pharmaceutical drug cartels.
She quoted the article, which reported Singh as saying in a telephone interview that companies involved in the importation and distribution of pharmaceuticals appeared concerned about a monopoly in the sector.
She said the article also quoted Singh as stating that he had received numerous complaints from clients who attempted to import pharmaceuticals but faced delays in obtaining permits from the Chemistry, Food and Drugs Division.
Robinson-Regis questioned why Singh did not disclose his prior advocacy.
Deputy Speaker Dr Aiyna Ali noted that the article dated from 2024 and that there was no evidence Singh represented those individuals.
Government Minister and PAAC member Saddam Hosein interjected, saying Robinson- Regis had not previously raised the issue regarding Singh.
Robinson-Regis rejected that claim, stating she wrote to Singh in a letter dated April 24, 2026, outlining her concerns about impartiality and prior advocacy in PAAC proceedings.
The MP was the lone speaker from the Opposition bench on the debate as Opposition members walked out of the Chamber after tensions flared over objections to Government members targeting Al-Rawi and criticising Beckles’ leadership.
