Manning and Ramnath escape Privileges Committee unscathed

Two matters — one involving Prime Minister Patrick Manning, the other, Opposition MP Kelvin Ramnath — which were referred to the Privileges Committee for a possible breach of privilege last year, have lapsed. Parliament officials indicated yesterday that the Privileges Committee which was investigating the two separate complaints, did not report before the end of the parliamentary session. Because of this, both matters have lapsed.

The Privileges Committee is supposed to work expeditiously, investigating and reporting on all matters sent to it, before the Parliament is prorogued. Although  work had begun on the two matters, the Committee had not concluded its deliberations when the session ended in September last year. Sources said it seemed as though neither side had any interest in pursuing both matters. And the lack of a timely conclusion seemed to be Parliament’s way of  avoidance in dispensing both matters.

The teacup brawl is unlikely to suffer the same fate because of the active interest of MPs and members of the public and the media on this issue.  In fact, the DPP’s decision not to prosecute Keith Rowley over the altercation between himself and Sharma, has made it virtually mandatory that the Privileges Committee report on this issue promptly. Both Rowley and Sharma have filed complaints against each other for the September 15  brawl in which Rowley was alleged to have hit Sharma and pelted a teacup and in which Sharma is alleged to have accused Rowley of being a racist and used abusive language to him. This is the third matter being sent to the Privileges Committee by this Speaker, Barry Sinanan, but the first on which the Committee is likely to report.