Rowley blanks Privileges Committee; Cox says he'll be there "soon"

Keith Rowley presenting his no confidence motion in Parliament

Keith Rowley was a no-show Monday at the inaugural hearing of the Committee of Privileges of the House of Representatives convened to determine whether Parliament should censure the opposition leader.

On May 22 Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar asked Speaker Wade Mark to refer Rowley to the committee for what she said was a deliberate attempt by Rowley to mislead the House.

Members of the committee did not reveal anything about Monday's meeting. Legal Affairs Minister Prakash Ramadhar, who is a member of the government dominated group, told reporters he could not answer questions because the work of the committee is confidential. Other government members maintained the strict confidentiality.

However PNM MP Donna Cox told reporters the committee would meet again next week and that Rowley would appear before the committee. He PNM colleague Colm Imbert followed the protocol of confidentiality.

He told reporters, "I have never, ever given out any information with respect to the deliberations of the Committee. I don't intend to start now. That will be against the rules. Other people may do it but not me."