Deosaran: Ayoung Chee insulted Parliament

Stating that he viewed it as an assault on the entire Parliament, Independent Senator Ramesh Deosaran yesterday asked that a threatening and abusive letter written by Dr Phillip Ayoung Chee be referred to the Privileges Committee of Parliament “for urgent and immediate action.” In stating his case in the Senate yesterday, Deosaran noted  that the correspondence which was sent through to his fax machine  contained several insults and “directly threatened” his physical safety. “My freedom of movement, my constitutional right to security of the person and more particularly, my duties as a Senator have all been put at risk by this doctor’s letter,” Deosaran stated.

He said while one is expected to be robust in public affairs, the physical threat against a Senator in carrying out his duties could be seen as a simple matter. “Criticism is one thing; a physical threat is another. And this House should draw a line,” Deosaran said. Giving details about the letter, Deosaran said Ayoung Chee warned “that if ever I decide to visit the San Fernando General Hospital, I should do so only when he is not present, otherwise I will meet up with his ‘full wrath and rot’ and he will embarrass me in public.”  Deosaran added that in the correspondence, which was dated January 5 and which was received by him on January 12, the doctor also used obscene language.

Deosaran said that the threats related to his Senate contribution on November 30, 2004, when he spoke on the bill to decentralise one of the Regional Health Authorities. He recalled commenting on the need for better care for the sick and poor at public health institutions, and called on some doctors to show more compassion for patients and think less about money. Deosaran pointed out that he called no names nor did he single out any particular medical association for criticism. Deosaran told the Senate that it was well established in the law of Parliament that it was a breach of privilege and contempt of either House to obstruct, insult or molest a member while in the execution of his duties.

He also stated that both Houses roundly condemned “assaulting, insulting or menacing” members of both Houses. He said the rights and immunities enjoyed by both Houses and their Committee collectively as well as by Members of Parliament individually, existed so that members could perform their duties freely and without hindrance. Vice President Rawle Titus, who is presiding in the absence of Dr Linda Baboolal (who is attending a parliamentary conference abroad) will rule on Deosaran’s request today.