Glenda: I am no OJT

Jennings Smith, who is also Toco/Sangre Grand Member of Parliament, made this declaration as she rejected allegations made by Naparima MP Rodney Charles, during debate on the Pre-Trial Procedure Bill 2017 in the House of Representatives.

A former police officer, Jennings Smith stated, “In my experience in the Police Service, I have seen where I have been a witness, where I have been a complainant for victims of heinous crimes.” Government MPs thumped their desks as she added, “I want to refer particularly to female victims.” Noting Charles reference to a murdered police officer as he said the Opposition would support measures to deal with crime in TT, Jennings Smith asked, “I wonder if it’s a charade or if it’s real?” While describing herself as an OJT in the Parliament, Jennings Smith looked across the Parliament chamber at Opposition MPs. Government MPs thumped their desks again, when she quipped, “Sometimes I am not really convinced that those on the other side have the heart or the feelings of what goes on in this country of TT.” She recalled a case where a victim in a matter she was involved in as a police officer was killed while the preliminary inquiry was going on.

As Opposition MPs repeatedly taunted her during her contribution, Jennings Smith warned them that she could make disclosures about what happened in 2011 about things that happened under the State of Emergency while the then People’s Partnership (PP) government was in office.

Earlier in the sitting, Charles alleged all the parliamentary sittings taking place were practice for Government ahead of debate on a private motion on crime at the end of this month.