UNC walks out on teacup debate

Opposition Chief Whip Ganga Singh said to engage in the debate on the report, when criminal and civil matters were pending in the High Court, was "to trespass on the judicial functions of the court, a frontal assault on the independence of the Judiciary and a subversion of the principles enshrined in the Constitution under Chapters 4, 5 and 7 on the separation of powers."

As a result, Singh said UNC members were of the view that "we would not participate in any debate that is an assault on the Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago, and we will leave it up to the PNM to assault the Constitution."

As the UNC MPs packed their bags and left, Government members enjoyed a good laugh. However, the MPs for Barataria/San Juan Dr Fuad Khan and Pointe-a-Pierre Gillian Lucky, who recently declared themselves as "independent" Opposition MPs, remained in the chamber.

The teacup report stemmed from allegations by Fyzabad MP Chandresh Sharma that he was physically assaulted and had a teacup, two remote controls and a cordless phone thrown at him by Diego Martin West MP and Minister of Housing Dr Keith Rowley, in the members’ lounge on September 15, 2004. The matter was referred to the Privileges Committee, which laid its report in the House two months ago.

The report cleared Dr Rowley of any wrongdoing, saying it was not possible to reconcile conflicting accounts from eyewitnesses to the incident. The report came up for debate two weeks ago, but Singh and Sharma wrote Speaker Barry Sinanan asking that he not allow the report to be debated, because it would be sub-judice, bearing in mind there were criminal and civil matters pending.

Sinanan last week ruled against their request paving the way for the debate. The ruling was not challenged. Prior to the Opposition’s walk out yesterday, Singh read into the records the letters to the Speaker from Sharma and himself.

In starting the debate, Privileges Committee member, Arima MP Pennelope Beckles, emphasised that the findings were "consistent with the consensus of all members."

Arouca MP Camille Robinson-Regis, speaking after the Opposition walk out, waded into the UNC and accused Sharma of "concocting the story" of being assaulted and wondered why it was done. She said it was frightening to think that if such a story could be concocted, on what might be a simple matter, what larger issues the UNC could concoct.

She added that it was curious and almost indecent for the Opposition to want to prevent the matter from being debated and getting the public’s attention, but no one should be surprised by their actions, and what should really be of concern "is to what lengths they will go to achieve any means."

She said those who supported Sharma’s allegations were just as guilty as Sharma for making the allegations, as they remained silent and let the process take its course.