We’ll all go too, vows Panday

The House of Representatives yesterday voted to force Fyzabad MP Chandresh Sharma to apologise over his actions surrounding the Tea Room Brawl, failing which he is to be suspended for one month. But in an immediate reaction, Leader of the Opposition Basdeo Panday said he hopes Sharma does not apologise, and vowed that if Sharma is suspended then he will be joined by all  UNC parliamentarians. The sitting began with the UNC MPs walking out of the House again in protest at the debate on the Tea Room Brawl, which they argued was a sub judice matter, still before the law courts.

The two “independent UNC” members, Pointe-a-Pierre MP Gillian Lucky and Barataria/San Juan MP, Dr Fuad Khan, stayed for the debate. Diego Martin East MP, Colm Imbert, and Diego Martin Central MP, Ken Valley, read out extracts from the findings of the report which they said were critical of Sharma’s evidence. The House approved the report, but with Lucky and Khan abstaining. Then Valley moved a motion claiming Sharma misled the House over the brawl by alleging that Rowley had molested him by assault and insulting and obscene language. The motion called for Sharma to apologise by the next sitting of the House, or be suspended for one month.

Khan protested the motion, saying in defence of Sharma: “In the report there was no finding of a breach of privilege, or  contempt of Parliament.” But the House approved the motion by 16 votes to two, with Khan and Lucky voting against. In an immediate reaction at the Red House, UNC leader Basdeo Panday was livid. “It is a travesty of justice. This is not a court of law. There’s a total misunderstanding of the procedure of the House.” He said he hoped Sharma would not apologise. “If Mr Chandresh Sharma is suspended by this House, we will all join him! Both members of the Upper and Lower House will join him in suspension.” Panday vowed to boycott Parliament and hold public meetings throughout the country. “We will carry Parliament to the people.”