Speaker ignores PM

Rowley entered the Parliament chamber while Opposition MP for Oropouche East Dr Roodal Moonilal was wrapping up his contribution and questioned George’s suitability based on historical antecedents.

The PM later said, “It was not before us to debate or engage in the suitability of the commissioner.” Moonilal’s contribution was interrupted several times by Leader of Government Business Camille Robinson-Regis on points of order, some of which were ignored by the Speaker.

Ro b i n s o n - R e g i s moved the motion and read out George’s qualifications.

George’s curriculum vitae, Rowley said, came to the House after the President would have consulted with the Leader of the Opposition and himself as Prime Minister. “How the consultation went and what position the officers took is not open for debate or even to be made public,” he said.

Standing on a point of order, but ignored by the Speaker, Moonilal mumbled to himself: “This is contemptuous.

Offensive.” Rowley continued saying that George’s curriculum vitae came to the House by a process and some comfort in the process was taken before. “What happened here today is likely to happen on every occasion that a vacancy arises and has to be filled,” he said.

As such, he asked the Leader of the Opposition Kamla Persad-Bissessar if she still agrees that as a Parliament, they need to review and make changes to the system of appointing a Commissioner of Police and the commissions that services of the police to put an end to the debate that ensued in the Parliament yesterday evening.

Annisette-George did not grant Persad-Bissessar any time to respond.

Heckling, Moonilal said Rowley’s question was irrelevant to the debate “and not before us”.

Prior to that Moonilal’s contribution was interrupted for irrelevance.

To this Rowley said, “This is precisely what I am addressing. This parliament of which I am a part, behaving in a way that is upsetting to the national population.” Responding to Moonilal’s contention that senior public officials were scrutinised in the American system, Rowley said that bipartisan committees of the US Congress were set up to examine the nominees as is going on right now in the US, but there was no debate across the floor between members of either side.

“You are completely at sea,” he said directing his attention to Moonilal and adding, “That is why we had so much difficulty this evening. That is why we had so much jumping up and ‘smartmanism’ and wasting Parliament’s time, and looking very bad in the public’s eye.” He said he watched a piece of the debate on television before entering and that the Parliament needs to get serious and distinguish itself.