Speaker warns of bad behaviour

The newest station on cable television came on-air with its logo — a gold and silver mace representing the Senate and House of Representatives shown against a background of the TT flag flowing and a globe turning.

However, the first telecast was not without technical difficulties.

There was a loss of audio as the marshall with the mace entered the Parliament Chamber signalling the start of sitting at 1.30 pm.

The problem continued while Sinanan opened the sitting with a prayer.

The problem continued while the clerk was reading the Order Paper, then the transmission ended.

It resumed showing cables on the ground.

The camera focus then returned to Sinanan who announced the absence of certain members of Parliament.

Sinanan warned parliamentarians that opening up of the public gallery was not to be used as a stage for undignified, unparliamentary behaviour.

He said live broadcasts marked the end of an era of “manufacturing sensationalist sound bytes, out of context and for personal aggrandisement.”

A member of the Parliament staff told Newsday there will be a month of testing during live broadcasts of the Senate and House sittings.

Media 21 has the contract to provide training and supply necessary equipment for the television, radio and Internet transmissions.