Saturday, February 19, 2011

Mark spares Imbert; no case to send opposition MP to Privileges Committee

The Speaker of Trinidad and Tobago's House of Rperesentatives, Wade Mark, on Friday rejected an application by Caroni East MP Dr Tim Gopeesingh to send opposition MP Colm Imbert to the Privileges Committee for a statement he made about the cancellation of the British naval presence in the Caribbean.

Imbert suggested that the British decision was prompted by the People's Partnership government's cancellation of contracts to buy offshore patrol boats from a British supplier.

"This is just an example of what countries will do to you when you interfere with them," the former Works and Transport Minister said.

"I will not be surprised if the withdrawal of the Royal Navy from the Caribbean Sea is not a reaction to our reneging as a country on the contract we had with the British government for the acquisition of offshore patrol vessels," Imbert added.

Gopeesingh took issue with Imbert's statement noting that it was irresponsible and an attempt to deliberately mislead the Parliament when it was clear that British government's decision was because of a funding crisis facing the navy.

He supported his argument with evidence produced in the Parliament by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar who said last Friday Imbert's "irresponsible statement...has the potential to cause severe damage to bilateral relations between Trinidad and Tobago and the United Kingdom."

Persad-Bissessar said after Imbert made the statement she contacted the British authorities that the navy's decision had no connection to the cancellation of the OPV.

"I have since been advised by them that the MP for Diego Martin North East’s statement or perception is totally incorrect and there was absolutely no link between the withdrawal of the Royal Navy frigate and the OPV contract," she said.

"His allegations are totally unfounded based on the fact," she added.

Read the story: PM Kamla tells Imbert UK didn't pull out of Caribbean because of OPV cancellation

Based on that, Gopeesingh asked for the Parliament to censure Imbert. However, Mark said Friday after considering all the facts and evidence before him he was of the opinion that it was not enough to make a prima facie case against Imbert.

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Jai & Sero

Jai & Sero

Our family at home in Toronto 2008

Our family at home in Toronto 2008
Amit, Heather, Fuzz, Aj, Jiv, Shiva, Rampa, Sero, Jai