Tea-cup probe starts on Friday

The alleged tea-cup affair between Minister of Housing Dr Keith Rowley and Fyzabad MP Chandresh Sharma will be probed by Parliament starting Friday. Under its standing orders the House of Representatives has delegated the oversight of its powers and privileges to its Committee of Privileges, chaired by House Speaker, Barry Sinanan. Last Friday he told the House that the Committee had met that morning to establish its membership. As Committee member Siparia MP Kamla Persad-Bissessar is the attorney for Sharma, she has been replaced by Pointe-a-Pierre MP Gillian Lucky.

Next Friday morning the Committee is expected to begin fully investigating the tea-cup affair. Sinanan told Sunday Newsday that as early as Friday the Committee could begin examining witnesses to the furore. “I’d like to have the matter concluded as early as possible,” he remarked. Saying he wanted to minimise any inconvenience to Committee members, he intends for the Committee to sit on Fridays before the sitting of the full House. “We will sit continuously.” He estimated that the Friday sittings could go on for the next two to three months, possibly right up to Christmas. 

Rowley and Sharma have accused each other of assault involving a tea-cup, a charge which if true, Sinanan has stated would constitute a breach of the privilege accorded to an MP to attend Parliament unmolested. The other Committee members are Government Ministers Camille Robinson-Regis, Pennelope Beckles, John Rahael, and Opposition MP, Subhas Panday.