The Opposition People’s National Movement (PNM) staged a walkout from Parliament on Friday night after Deputy House Speaker Dr Aiyna Ali halted their protests.
The dispute arose over objections that Opposition Senator Faris Al-Rawi was included in the debate, along with criticisms describing Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles’ leadership as “weak”.
The drama unfolded during Minister of Works and Infrastructure Jearlean John’s contribution to the debate, on a motion moved by Government Minister Saddam Hosein to adopt the Special Report of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC).
John, a PAAC member, noted that Opposition senators Janelle John-Bates and Al-Rawi assisted former health minister Terrence Deyalsingh with his witness statement submitted to the committee, as evidenced by tracked changes in the document.
Opposition MP Colm Imbert objected on several occasions, saying: “Senator Al-Rawi is not the subject of this motion.”
However, Ali dismissed the objection, noting that Al-Rawi “is a part of everything”.
John quipped, “But his name is all over the document!” as Ali displayed Deyalsingh’s statement and confirmed that Al-Rawi was named in the tracked changes.
John continued, warning Beckles that she was being “set up” and alleging that Opposition members wanted John-Bates removed while Al-Rawi remained.
‘Brotherhood of wrongdoing’
Tension intensified as John claimed there were moves to remove Beckles as leader, as Imbert objected, saying that Beckles was not the subject of the report or the debate.
John responded: “Everybody except the Leader of the Opposition knows what they are about. They want her out. If we know it, it means all of them know, so you (Beckles) take basket.”
Beckles rose in objection, saying she was not the subject of the debate.
Government Minister Barry Padarath accused Beckles of disrupting John, saying: “If you cannot handle the heat, get out of the kitchen!”
John again urged Beckles not to take “chain-up”, arguing that this controversy exposed the weakness of her leadership.
The minister said John-Bates admitted to assisting Deyalsingh, and the debate would have been unnecessary had Beckles removed her as a senator.
She noted that John-Bates had offered her resignation and said she would take her seat to allow Beckles to respond, reiterating that Al-Rawi was also culpable.
Beckles shot to her feet and objected, saying: “This motion is not about the conduct of Senator Al-Rawi.”
Ali stood firm, reiterating that Al-Rawi was named in the report and was therefore relevant to the discussion.
John escalated her focus on Al-Rawi, declaring there was a “brotherhood of wrongdoing”.
Faris ‘untouched’
At this point, Opposition members walked out as Government members accused them of avoiding the truth and shouted: “Shame!”
“Go! Get out of here!” thundered John, as Government members also shouted, “Cowards!” while the Opposition exited the Chamber.
John then announced that if Al-Rawi remains a senator, the Government will raise objections to every committee on which he sits.
The minister noted that objections had already been raised about John-Bates’ presence on the Joint Select Committee (JSC) on National Security.
She declared: “Senator Al-Rawi is on the Energy Committee and should he show up, we will show him the door…he has to go; we are not going to sit with him!”
John continued to question Beckles’ leadership, asking: “We have to ask the question—is Al-Rawi too big to fail? Does proportionality not apply to Senator Al-Rawi?”
She argued it was unfair for John-Bates to be “thrown under the bus” while Al-Rawi remained “untouched”, and called for the removal of both senators.
John also predicted the PNM would remain in Opposition for at least the next 20 years.
With Opposition benches empty, the debate continued for over four hours.
The House was adjourned to May 8.
