JENSEN LA VENDE
Senior Reporter
Parliament staff are denying allegations of bias, after claims by Leader of Government Business Barry Padarath that microphones used by Government MPs were deliberately muted during parliamentary sittings.
Speaking with Guardian Media under the strict condition of anonymity yesterday, workers said they were not fazed by the accusations and remained committed to carrying out their duties.
“We serve both the Government and Opposition equally. It matters not to us who is in power or what. We serve both sides equally and it’s as simple as that.”
Friday’s Standing Finance Committee meeting erupted shortly before 10 pm when Padarath accused parliamentary broadcasting personnel of showing bias by muting the microphones of Government MPs and allegedly maintaining higher audio levels for Opposition MPs.
There were also allegations, though it was not seen in the Parliament Channel’s public broadcast due to the camera angle, that Padarath left his seat and took a picture of a staff member whom he believed was in charge of the audio system.
Asked how staff felt hearing the accusation, the workers said: “We are surprised that that would happen. But at the end of the day, we have our job to do and that is all. We have a job to do and that is what we are coming to work tomorrow (Monday), for the sitting. We are sitting from morning, and we are coming to do our job. It’s as simple as that.”
During the loud outbursts on Friday, which caused the sitting to be suspended for ten minutes, member of the Broadcast Committee, Michelle Benjamin, said that the matter of microphones being muted was raised during the last parliamentary term.
Members of the committee, which includes Hans des Vignes, Foster Cummings and Khadijah Ameen, were contacted yesterday but calls went unanswered.
Guardian Media was informed that committee discussions are private, and whether or not the matter was raised ought not to be disclosed.
It is expected that when the committee meets again the matter will once again come up.
Speaking with Guardian Media yesterday, a former parliament staffer of over three decades also assured that members of the broadcast team are professional.
The former worker said the microphone is not an individual thing.
“Every time the Speaker stands, the technician switches off all the other microphones. You may think it is your microphone alone, but all other microphones are muted because the Speaker must always have control of the floor.”
According to the worker, the same practice exists throughout Westminster-style legislatures and is designed to preserve order during heated exchanges.
“This is not some PNM-UNC thing. This is how it is done not only in Trinidad and Tobago but everywhere.”
The worker said MPs seated on one side of the chamber often cannot tell when microphones on the opposite side have also been muted, creating the impression that only their side is being affected.
Contacted for comment, political analyst Derek Ramsamooj suggested the controversy was overshadowing more pressing national issues, including today’s Mid-Year Budget Review.
Meanwhile, political analyst Dr Shane Mohammed said the explanations provided by parliamentary staff left little room for further debate.
“In light of staff saying they are working for everyone, there is no issue. They are prepared to do the work…If staff say they are prepared to do the work, then we’re speaking about absolutely nothing.”
