The Privileges Committee of Parliament on Friday found Patrick Manning guilty of contempt of Parliament. It will meet on Monday to discuss what penalties to impose on the former prime minister.
It has several choices. It could suspend Manning, ask him to apologise, reprimand him or even expel him.
Manning was sent before the Privileges Committee for making allegations about the private residence he made of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, claiming that it cost $150 million and that the financing for it came from party financiers who were engaged in illicit activities.
"They were struggling to build that house before the election", he told Parliament. The Prime Minister responded with documentary evidence that the house cost just over $4 million and she explained the circumstances under which she and her husband acquired the land and built the house.
Manning tried to get his lawyer to interrogate witnesses at the hearing of the committee but that was rejected by the House of Representatives with even members of his own party, including opposition leader Keith Rowley, disagreeing with Manning's stand and abstaining from the vote on the matter.
The Committee tabled its report in Parliament Friday stating that despite invitations to Manning to appear answer the allegations against him and to be heard on numerous occasions, "the Member has refused to respond to the allegations before the Committee and has requested adjournments of the Committee's proceedings for a variety of reasons".
Manning either did not show up or attended and requested adjournments when invited to attend meetings on 10 occasions - January 21, January 31, February 11, February 18, February 25, April 15, April 26, May 3, May 10 and May 11.
The Committee said it exercised "tremendous patience and forbearance" in accommodating Manning's multiple requests for adjournments. It added that in its opinion it did everything in its power to ensure that the member for San Fernando East was fully apprised of the allegations made against him and to give him an opportunity to be heard.
"Members felt it was most regrettable that the Committee was limited to deliberating on the verbatim notes of Manning's contribution and the personal explanation given by the Prime Minister, without the benefit of hearing from Manning."
The committee said it felt Manning was "frustrating the Committee's efforts to proceed with its business with expedition".
The Committee also said Manning's absences, attitude and responses to the Committee also suggested contempt for the Committee.
With respect to Manning's contribution, which caused him to be sent to the committee, the committee said it was deliberate and "not an off-the-cuff one" since the Speaker cautioned him about imputing improper motives.
The Committee also noted that even after the Prime Minister provided evidence to counter Manning's allegations he refused to apologise or withdraw his remarks.
Opposition Leader Keith Rowley responded to the report by accusing the Government of using its majority to "bulldoze" a report to the Parliament, noting that on the Chairman of the Privileges Committee, House Speaker Wade Mark, signed the report.
He said the three PNM committee members objected to the findings and their "strong minority objection" is not reflected in the report. He promised to "fight it to the limit."
However the Express newspaper said an official source from the Committee's secretariat stated that six of the nine members signed the report. The three opposition members did not. Colm Imbert and Donna Cox were absent at the time the Committee approved the report although Imbert had sent his objection by email. Patricia McIntosh verbally indicated her objection.
It has several choices. It could suspend Manning, ask him to apologise, reprimand him or even expel him.
Manning was sent before the Privileges Committee for making allegations about the private residence he made of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, claiming that it cost $150 million and that the financing for it came from party financiers who were engaged in illicit activities.
"They were struggling to build that house before the election", he told Parliament. The Prime Minister responded with documentary evidence that the house cost just over $4 million and she explained the circumstances under which she and her husband acquired the land and built the house.
Manning tried to get his lawyer to interrogate witnesses at the hearing of the committee but that was rejected by the House of Representatives with even members of his own party, including opposition leader Keith Rowley, disagreeing with Manning's stand and abstaining from the vote on the matter.
The Committee tabled its report in Parliament Friday stating that despite invitations to Manning to appear answer the allegations against him and to be heard on numerous occasions, "the Member has refused to respond to the allegations before the Committee and has requested adjournments of the Committee's proceedings for a variety of reasons".
Manning either did not show up or attended and requested adjournments when invited to attend meetings on 10 occasions - January 21, January 31, February 11, February 18, February 25, April 15, April 26, May 3, May 10 and May 11.
The Committee said it exercised "tremendous patience and forbearance" in accommodating Manning's multiple requests for adjournments. It added that in its opinion it did everything in its power to ensure that the member for San Fernando East was fully apprised of the allegations made against him and to give him an opportunity to be heard.
"Members felt it was most regrettable that the Committee was limited to deliberating on the verbatim notes of Manning's contribution and the personal explanation given by the Prime Minister, without the benefit of hearing from Manning."
The committee said it felt Manning was "frustrating the Committee's efforts to proceed with its business with expedition".
The Committee also said Manning's absences, attitude and responses to the Committee also suggested contempt for the Committee.
With respect to Manning's contribution, which caused him to be sent to the committee, the committee said it was deliberate and "not an off-the-cuff one" since the Speaker cautioned him about imputing improper motives.
The Committee also noted that even after the Prime Minister provided evidence to counter Manning's allegations he refused to apologise or withdraw his remarks.
Opposition Leader Keith Rowley responded to the report by accusing the Government of using its majority to "bulldoze" a report to the Parliament, noting that on the Chairman of the Privileges Committee, House Speaker Wade Mark, signed the report.
He said the three PNM committee members objected to the findings and their "strong minority objection" is not reflected in the report. He promised to "fight it to the limit."
However the Express newspaper said an official source from the Committee's secretariat stated that six of the nine members signed the report. The three opposition members did not. Colm Imbert and Donna Cox were absent at the time the Committee approved the report although Imbert had sent his objection by email. Patricia McIntosh verbally indicated her objection.
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