Senior Reporter
While Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles remains mum on Janelle John-Bates’ senatorial future, Leader of the Opposition Bench in the Senate Dr Amery Browne is asking for patience, stressing the need for Beckles to have time to make the best decision.
Speaking to Guardian Media outside the Parliament yesterday, Dr Browne said, “This Senator (John-Bates), who, as far as I’m aware, has not been accused of breaking any law or committing any criminal offence, has admitted to an error, has offered a resignation; it’s being duly considered.
“Five days, I think, let’s give a little more time to the process. Let’s have confidence in our Leader of the Opposition to make the right decision, to convey it in a responsible manner, and the Senate team, the committees, etc, will move on… She’s (John-Bates) already been replaced on this specific committee (Public Administration and Appropriations Committee), so all the right steps are being taken.”
He said until a decision is made, John-Bates, who continues to participate in the Senate, has already been replaced on the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC).
Yesterday made it five days since John-Bates offered her resignation in the Senate.
Attempts to contact Beckles to find out her decision have been futile.
In the meantime, several Government ministers continue to criticise Beckles for not being swift in her judgment.
Voicing his criticism yesterday via his WhatsApp status, a frequent platform for Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo to address national concerns such as the budget date, Tancoo said, “Why has the PNM leader refused to act despite significant allegations of misconduct against two PNM senators? PNM has no integrity.”
However, dismissing pressure from the Government to respond quickly, Dr Browne said there are Members of Parliament (MPs) currently before the courts.
He said, “I could just dismiss the Government and their views and opinions because they have no authority in this matter and they themselves are completely compromised.
“If we’re talking about compromising the Parliament and committees, it’s our Prime Minister who stood and said that there was an approach for bribery for votes, which has never been clarified or actioned or treated with. They pretend that never happened and that’s on the official public record… We have Members of Parliament who are literally before the courts at this time, literally. You don’t have to use an analogy there and those processes have been going on for years.”
He added that the embattled Senator continues to receive his support and that of the PNM.
However, there are critics who say John-Bates was misled by her own colleagues including Opposition Senators Faris Al-Rawi and Foster Cummings.
While Al-Rawi avoided the media for the first time yesterday, Cummings addressed the matter directly but distanced himself from it.
Speaking with Guardian Media, Cummings said, “I am not involved in that situation and all matters pertaining to what you’re asking me about are being treated with by the appropriate persons in particular the Leader of the Opposition and she has already made a statement on that and that’s what we have to go with.”
He also does not believe Beckles should be pressured to make a swift decision.
He added, “The Leader of the Opposition must act in her own timing and on her own counsel and not be guided by the pressures… Is there a limit? Is there a timeframe?”
