Senate on despite Panday’s court date

OPPOSITION LEADER Basdeo Panday’s appearance at the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court on corruption charges tomorrow will not prevent the Senate (which has its weekly sitting at 1.30 p m on the same day) from conducting the business of the people of Trinidad and Tobago. This was the assurance given by Public Administration and Information Minister Dr Lenny Saith. There was also word yesterday from the Opposition UNC which gave the impression that its six senators would not be boycotting the regular Tuesday afternoon sitting of the Upper House following the hearing of Panday’s court matter in the morning.

Speaking with Newsday after the American Chamber of Commerce’s 2005 annual general meeting at the Hilton Trinidad, Dr Saith said notwithstanding the drama which could take place when the UNC leader goes to court, the Senate will meet as usual. “The sitting is on. As Leader of Government Business (in the Senate) I will be there at 1.30 pm to start the Senate,” Saith said. Asked if special security measures would be put in place on Tuesday near the Red House and the Port-of-Spain Magistrates’ Court, in light of Panday’s court appearance and the UNC’s encouragement of supporters to come to Port-of-Spain, Saith said he was unaware of any such security arrangements for Tuesday’s Senate sitting.

UNC Senator Sadiq Baksh told Newsday that as far as he was aware, all Opposition senators would be attending the Senate tomorrow afternoon. Asked if the UNC would file its no-confidence motion against Senate President Dr Linda Baboolal at Tuesday’s sitting, Baksh said that question would be better put to Senate Opposition Leader Wade Mark. Repeated attempts to contact Mark yesterday were unsuccessful. Before Fyzabad MP Chandresh Sharma’s suspension from the House of Representatives on May 20, Mark told Newsday that the UNC would be filing a no-confidence motion against Baboolal, but it had not been decided when it would be filed. 

After Sharma’s suspension and his failed threat to attend Parliament on May 27 (in defiance of House Speaker Barry Sinanan’s ruling and his own party’s advice), Mark said the UNC would also consider if it should file a no-confidence motion against Sinanan. Asked for his thoughts about the UNC’s planned no-confidence motion against Baboolal, Saith replied; “The rules (of the Senate) allow him (to do so).” Topping the Senate’s agenda tomorrow will be debates on the Home Mortgage Bank Amendment, Pilotage Amendment and Anti-Terrorism Bills.