Opposition walks out

The bill is essential to this country being Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) compliant with the United States.

The walkout by Opposition MPs occurred after Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George rejected a request by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar to adjourn the House to discuss what Persad- Bissessar described as Government’s failure to address an unprecedented number of murders and missing persons in TT.

This came 24 hours after Republic Bank Ltd employee Shannon Banfield, 20, who went missing on Monday, was found stuffed on a shelf and hidden by cardboard boxes on the third floor of the IAM & Co warehouse store off Charlotte Street, Port-of-Spain.

On Wednesday in the House, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley said reports of missing persons in TT were, “a matter of national concern”, and law enforcement agencies in this country are doing what they can to locate these persons.

Rowley, who was not in the House yesterday, has condemned Banfield’s murder and extended condolences to her family.

As she outlined the reasons why this matter qualified under Standing Order 17 of the House, Persad- Bissessar declared, “We are losing our citizens each day and there could be no more important matter than protecting the lives of our citizens.” She also said every day the bodies of persons which cannot be identified are being found, even as more persons are reported missing. Persad-Bissessar warned if nothing is done to arrest this situation, the criminals will see it as a signal that their crimes will go unpunished and the country’s international reputation will be damaged.

However, Annisette-George ruled that the matter did not qualify under Standing Order 17 and advised Persad-Bissessar to raise it under Standing Order 16.

At this point, Persad-Bissessar stood up and argued with Annisette- George. The Speaker then ejected Persad-Bissessar from the Chamber. Persad-Bissessar replied, “I will withdraw.” Naparima MP Rodney Charles also protested the Speaker’s ruling and Annisette- George threw him out as well.

Other Opposition MPs immediately packed up their bags and followed Persad-Bissessar out of the Chamber, leaving Government MPs to continue debate by themselves. After Opposition MPs left, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi declared the Opposition had “walked out again on FATCA”, having done so previously on September 23. Saying that former Speaker Wade Mark made similar rulings on similar motions and no walkout ensued, the AG quipped, “This is the Christmas gift to TT (from the Opposition). I cry shame on the Opposition!” Public Utilities Minister Fitzgerald Hinds expressed Government’s condolences to Banfield’s family and disclosed that he had spoken with Banfield’s mother on Thursday.

Describing the Opposition’s action as “a manufactured walkout”, Hinds observed that several Opposition MPs were prepared to leave long before Persad-Bissessar challenged the Speaker’s ruling.

Declaring that he has never blamed any government for crime in TT, Hinds said the United National Congress (UNC) was dealing with crime in the wrong way.

He said partisan interests must be set aside, “we have to pull ourselves together”, pass legislation and give law enforcement agencies, “the best shot” to bring crime under control.