ROWLEY VEX AGAIN

Housing Minister Dr Keith Rowley was denied “his day of vindication” as the Opposition succeeded with its moves to stop the debate on the tearoom brawl in the House of Representatives yesterday. A frustrated Rowley listened as House Speaker Barry Sinanan announced at the start of the sitting that the debate on the Privileges Committee Report on the fracas between Rowley and Fzyabad MP Chandresh Sharma, scheduled for yesterday, would not take place. Sinanan cited correspondence from Chief Whip Ganga Singh and Fyzabad MP Chandresh Sharma, both of whom objected to the Parliament discussing the Report of the Privileges Committee investigating the altercation in the tearoom.

Sinanan said he felt the submission, particularly that made by Singh, had “greater depth” and required “further thought.” Newsday learnt that one submission was sent to Sinanan’s office last night, while the other arrived at his office yesterday morning. Under the circumstances, the Speaker said he was ruling that the motion to debate the Privileges Committee Report “for the moment, not be proceeded with.” The Government members didn’t seem unduly disturbed. In fact, missing from the Government benches were its members on the Privileges Committee — ministers John Rahael, Penny Beckles and Hedwidge Bereaux. Leader of Government Business Ken Valley made it clear that  the Government respected the Speaker’s ruling. He moved for an adjournment of the House since “this was a special sitting to debate this matter.”

However, their colleague Rowley was not as happy. The PNM MP immediately called a news conference in the Parliament Committee room where he vented his anger against Sharma and the UNC. Stating that he was a very patient man, Rowley noted:  “I sat for six months and saw a political party through one of its lesser miscreants slander me continuously. And today, my day of vindication, lo and behold, this man comes and tells the Parliament that the matter is sub judice.” He said he had no quarrel with the Speaker’s ruling. But he said people should take note of the fact that the “last person in the country” who wanted the matter ventilated was Sharma. Rowley stated that he had heard from the media more than one month ago that Sharma had filed a case in the court, but he had received no summons on the matter.

The Diego Martin West MP said Sharma, who brought the altercation to Parliament’s attention on September 15, arguing that a breach of privilege was committed, had since been trying his best to prevent the very Parliament from investigating the matter. Rowley said when Sharma appeared before the Privileges Committee he was more concerned with what sanctions he could face and had to be virtually “coaxed” into giving evidence. After this, the same Sharma “who told the whole country that he was beaten and suffered injuries” attempted to have the matter withdrawn from the committee, Rowley noted. Sharma then sought to stop the committee from presenting the report to Parliament, he said, adding that Sharma’s behaviour certainly did not fit that of a man who had been wronged and was searching for justice. The House has been adjourned to next Wednesday.