Big stink in House

In Parliament yesterday morning, during the contribution of Attorney General Faris Al Rawi, Moonilal was heard saying, “shut your stink mouth!” The Opposition Whip later said the remarks were directed at Hinds and in a media interview aired last night, he apologised.

He did not say what triggered the outburst.

“Mr Hinds is himself quite provocative so in the heat of the Parliamentary banter I may have said something that I regret so I quickly withdrew the statement and apologised properly,” Moonilal said in a CNC3 interview.

When the remark was made, there were protests from Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, Government Whip Camille Robinson-Regis and Attorney General Al-Rawi. “Madam Speaker, I do expect much better than that,” Al Rawi said. “Madam Speaker I object!” the Prime Minister said.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Bridgid Annisette-George warned MPs to, “show each other some respect”.

“I would like all members to be guided by the Standing Orders,” she said. During his contribution, Al-Rawi – a former member of the board of the Housing Development Corporation – went on to discuss the Las Alturas Commission of Inquiry.

“I would just like Trinidad and Tobago to know that the Las Alturas Commission of Inquiry, in pursuit of $26 million has cost the taxpayers of Trinidad and Tobago to date $18 million in legal fees and some operating expenses,” Al-Rawi said.

“But that’s not enough because the commission has now written for an extension or uplift in the fees so that is to date.” The Attorney General – who made no mention of his former tenure at the HDC – continued, “But we are committed to ensuring transparency.” He said he instructed the permanent secretary of the ministry to write the inquiry asking them to indicate whether they needed an extension of time to carry out their work.

“We have written for that to continue,” the Attorney General said. He said the contractor involved in the Las Alturas case had a design-build contract but was not pursued in court and there is an issue where the statutory of limitations has run out.

“The same contractor who was awarded the contract to build the contract in south of Trinidad and Tobago,” the Attorney General said.

At the same time, Al-Rawi said, $500 million was lost in the LifeSport fiasco and no forensic audit was ordered, despite legal advice going to former Attorney General Anand Ramlogan in November 2014