Senator manning wants to take away parliamentary privilege

Senator Hazel Manning on Tuesday suggested that Parliament should re-examine its rules with a view to taking away the long-held parliamentary privilege that allows members to make allegations in Parliament without legal consequences. The privilege extends to the media to report such matters.

Manning was responding to an allegation made Monday by opposition Senate leader Wade Mark who told the Upper House Manning received a $9,000 travelling allowance cheque while she was employed at the Airports Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (AATT).

He said she was not entitled to it because she did not own a car. Mark not only made the accusation, he quoted a cheque number.

Manning refuted Mark's charge by paying in Parliament a letter dated Sept. 4, 2007 from Corporate Secretary/Legal Adviser of the AATT, Hayden Newton. The letter states that after a "diligent search of our files" revealed that during the period Nov. 1995 to March 1996 "there were no payments in respect of travelling allowances to the Honourable Senator".

Newton's letter confirmed that "a commuted travelling allowance" of $2,000 per month was paid from April 1996 to July 1997.

Manning said she felt that such issues must not continue, adding that it was time for the Parliament to examine the issue of parliamentary privilege. "I pity those who can't defend themselves," she said.

And she tried to turn the tables around, making accusations of her own. She said "all kinds of strange things" happened at the airports authority in July 1997, claiming that the AATT tried to get rid of people of integrity. "I was one of those fired," she said.

Manning's husband, Prime Minister Patrick Manning, was leader of the opposition at that time and the government was headed by Basdeo Panday.

Independent Senator Ramesh Deosaran stood up for Hazel Manning saying he understands "what it is to be wrongfully accused. It is not a pleasant thing."

And he demanded that Mark provide proof or apologize to Manning. At the same time Deosaran said Mark has a public duty to point out irregularities and defended the right of MPs to parliamentary privilege.

He said any attempt to remove it would be an infringement on the freedom and right of members of Parliament to speak. However he acknowledged that freedom carries an obligation.

Mark was not present during the contributions of both senators. However he told reporters he has nothing to apologize for and produced a document to support his statement about Manning's alleged travelling allowance.

Manning challenged the authenticity and validity of the documents.