TT government in contempt of parliament?

The Speaker of the House of Representatives made an unprecedented move Friday and ruled that the Government be taken before the House Privileges Committee for its failure to answer questions by the opposition. Barendra Sinanan made the ruling in response to a motion by Opposition Chief Whip Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj.

Sinanan had previously warned the Government that it has an obligation to answer question, but still about 100 question remain unanswered.

In moving for a ruling against the Government Maharaj said, "The Opposition members have been severely prejudiced and adversely affected in their duty to scrutinize the Government and to make the Government account to the House.

He said the Government's action of ignoring the questions amounted to "an affront to the House."

Maharaj said, "The Prime Minister as Head of Government and as Head of Cabinet is responsible to the House for the aforesaid conduct of the Government and its Ministers. My research shows that nowhere in the Commonwealth have a Government conducted itself in such a manner."

Sinanan agreed with Maharaj that the Government should answer to the House. But he made it clear that it was not his responsibility to hold an enquiry on the matter.

"All I am required to do is consider whether the rather novel submissions of the honourable member for Tabaquite point to a reasonable possibility that contempt has occurred," he said."

However, I have carefully considered this matter which has been submitted to me earlier today, against the background of principles relating to contempt. In doing so, I have examined all appropriate authorities, including our own Constitution, and I am of the view that a prima facie case of contempt has been made out," Sinanan said.

He maintained that the issue is one for "your Committee of Privileges to do, after a full consideration and investigation of this issue. In the circumstances, I refer the matter to the Committee of Privileges of this House for investigation and report."

Opposition members congratulated themselves on their moment of victory against the govening party.

Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday, who was suspended from the House by Sinanan, expressed shock.

He has always stated that the Speaker is biased against the opposition. He called it a miracle and welcomed Sinanan's change in attitude.

However, Panday was not in a celebratory mood. He said he will wait and see how the Government reacts to this ruling and the outcome of the Privileges Committee before he makes any further comment.

Some observers called the development another Public Relations exercise by the government noting that the committee is dominated by the governing party and will do no more than hand the Government a slap in the wrist and ask it to comply with Standing Orders.

Members of the Privileges committee are the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker, Pointe-a-Pierre MP Christine Kangaloo and Caroni East MP Dr Tim Gopeesingh.

They say Gopeesingh as the only opposition member will have little or no influence on the PNM dominated committee.