GO TO HELL

Opposition member for Couva South Kelvin Ramnath not only dared House Speaker Barry Sinanan to discipline him, but also shouted: “Barry Sinanan go to hell!”

Spitting fire and brimstone at the party’s Monday night forum at the Princes Town Junior Secondary School, Ramnath’s outburst brought a sudden silence to the hall where the meeting was held. And in case the audience could not believe what they had heard, he repeated: “And if you didn’t hear, Barry Sinanan go to hell!” Ramnath, who last Friday clashed with the Speaker in the House of Representa-tives, was joined by his political leader Basdeo Panday, who, referring to last Friday’s display, declared: “It is the beginning of things to come. Those who do not listen will feel.” Ramnath accused Sinanan of bias and said that he would not be muzzled. The Couva South MP then challenged the Speaker to take him before the Privileges Committee. He said the Constitution affords him free speech in public, a right no one can take from him. Ramnath said: “If Barry Sinanan wants to discipline me for something I said, let him take a chance.”

Accusing Sinanan of being a “PNM Speaker” who was yet to resign from the ruling party after his tenure as San Fernando West constituency MP, Ramnath vowed: “I will deal with him Friday after Friday until he changes his attitude.” Panday also accused Sinanan of bias and hinted of more clashes in the House. Panday said: “What happen last Friday...they felt an explosion. It is the beginning of things to come.”  The Opposition Leader, however, sounded the warning that if the conduct of the Parliament’s business is not changed, worse could develop. “If they do not change, things will get worse. Those who do not listen will feel,” Panday said. Other speakers were MP for St Joseph, Gerald Yetming, Kamla Persad-Bissessar (Siparia) and Subhas Panday (Princes Town).