PNM-UNC squabble over Integrity forms

GOVERNMENT and Opposi-tion squabbled on Tuesday in the Senate over whether a motion to appoint five Senators to the Joint Select Committee to examine the prescribed forms under the Integrity in Public Life Act should be passed. Leader of Government business Dr Lenny Saith put the motion to the Senate - that Senators Glenda Morean, Martin Joseph, Danny Montano, Wade Mark, Dana Seetahal be appointed to the Joint Select Committee. But Minority Leader Wade Mark argued that the Opposition did not support the matter going to the JSC. Mark said his name was only proposed “tentatively” as a member of the JSC. He said the Opposition had been looking forward to having the matter debated in the Senate. “We have some concerns and I want clarification,” he said.

But Saith took objection to Mark attempting to debate whether the matter should have gone to a JSC in the first place . Saith said  the motion before the Senate was merely to accept the decision of the House of Representatives (to send the matter to the JSC) and following on that decision, to name members from the Senate to the JSC. “We are merely responding to that (decision),” Saith said, stressing that the Senate couldn’t begin a debate on the issue now.  But Mark argued that the House couldn’t regulate the business of the Senate. Noting that November 30 was the deadline for the filing of declarations, Mark said that the JSC was required to report on December 1, which meant that for yet another year, MPs and Ministers and all public officers would escape having to file declarations of asset, income and liabilities. Senate President Dr Linda Baboolal put the motion to the Senate which was passed, with government and Independents voting in favour of it, while Opposition members dissented.