Hadeed "farse and out of place," - Mary King

Former Independent Senator Mary King says there is a creeping dictatorship in the Upper House. And the opposition says it plans to file a no-confidence motion against Senate Vice President, George Hadeed.

King was commenting on Hadeed’s letter of caution to the independent senators suggesting that it was improper for them to meet to discuss the appointment of a chairman to a Joint Select Committee to probe the operations of the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT).

Hadeed has said that the nine independent senators do not comprise a political bloc like an organized party and they had no business taking a collective decision on matters affecting Parliament.

In responding to Hadeed’s sentiments King said, “Well that is a little ridiculous isn’t it?” She said it is normal for humans to meet and discuss matters of mutual concerns without being “political”.

King told local media Hadeed was, “farse and out of place.”

The JSC that Prime Minister Patrick Manning announced last week is intended to comprise three Government members, two Opposition members and an independent senator.

But the opposition said last week it wouldn’t participate in a “sham” probe of UDeCOTT. Government House Leader Colm Imbert responded that the opposition was acting irresponsibly and that others members would take their place.

But King said without opposition’s participation it would not be “Joint-Select” committee since the purpose of such a committee is to include representatives of both sides of the Parliament and one or more independent senators.

King and the opposition have called for an independent public inquiry into UDeCOTT, arguing that a parliamentary committee lacks the forensic clout to conduct such a probe. The man in the middle of the controversy, Dr Keith Rowley, and private sector organizations share that view.

But the government is adamant that such an enquiry in not warranted. Imbert says a government should not be expected to launch a commission of enquiry “every Monday morning,” whenever someone has a claim of corruption. And another Cabinet member has said the history of such investigations shows that nothing comes out of them.

The opposition is not taking Hadeed’s interference lightly. In a news release Tuesday, Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate Wade Mark called on Hadeed to resign.

Mark said, “The VP of the Senate is out of order and very improper to interfere in the business of Independent Senators. “Independent Senators are appointed by the President of the Republic. They do not constitute a party group or party branch of the PNM and Mr Hadeed—even when he sits as a Presiding Officer—does not hold a whip over them.”

Mark said his party intends to file a motion of no confidence against Hadeed.

On another issue, Mark called on Hadeed to appeal to the leader of Government Business, Conrad Enill, to have answers ready on time. Ten questions on the Order Paper were not answered Tuesday.