The Speaker of the House of Representatives on Friday spared Sports Minister Anil Roberts from facing censure by the House Privileges Committee for alleging that Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley used his office as a Cabinet Minister to favour a People's National Movement (PNM) colleague.
Wade Mark ruled that while Roberts "misspoke" there was not enough evidence to conclude that he deliberately misled the House and therefore he would not have to go before the committee.
Roberts told Parliament on January 14 that Rowley intervened to grant outline approval to Joseph Rahael, son of former PNM minister John Rahael, for the construction of 15 floors for the Renaissance Towers.
Wade Mark ruled that while Roberts "misspoke" there was not enough evidence to conclude that he deliberately misled the House and therefore he would not have to go before the committee.
Roberts told Parliament on January 14 that Rowley intervened to grant outline approval to Joseph Rahael, son of former PNM minister John Rahael, for the construction of 15 floors for the Renaissance Towers.
He alleged that it was done against the advice of technocrats, public servants and the Environmental Manage- ment Authority (EMA).
Rowley objected, stating that the "facts" Roberts presented were not true and asked for Roberts to be sent to the Privileges Committee for those statements.
Mark delayed a judgment in the matter to conduct his own research and to get clarification from Roberts.
Rowley objected, stating that the "facts" Roberts presented were not true and asked for Roberts to be sent to the Privileges Committee for those statements.
Mark delayed a judgment in the matter to conduct his own research and to get clarification from Roberts.
Having done that he advised the House what has been revealed "is that the Member for D'Abadie/O'Meara, faced with incomplete records, stretched the details contained in the documents in his possession, drew bold inferences from letters and documents and placed them on the record of this House as facts."
He added, "The member misspoke. In other words, he rushed to conclusions in a matter involving a parliamentary colleague, using incomplete records. He spoke as though his conclusions were factual and placed them as such on the records of this House."
Mark cautioned all members to be more careful in how they use information. "All members are strongly advised to avoid this error. It is not the parliamentary way," Mark said. However he made the point that not all issues that prove to be errors can be classified as deliberate attempts to mislead.
The Speaker said Roberts was wrong to make the allegations without verifying the details. "It goes against long-established codes of parliamentary conduct. But as objectionable as this may be, it is not sufficient to require any further attention of the House, without other essential ingredients," he said.
He added, "The member misspoke. In other words, he rushed to conclusions in a matter involving a parliamentary colleague, using incomplete records. He spoke as though his conclusions were factual and placed them as such on the records of this House."
Mark cautioned all members to be more careful in how they use information. "All members are strongly advised to avoid this error. It is not the parliamentary way," Mark said. However he made the point that not all issues that prove to be errors can be classified as deliberate attempts to mislead.
The Speaker said Roberts was wrong to make the allegations without verifying the details. "It goes against long-established codes of parliamentary conduct. But as objectionable as this may be, it is not sufficient to require any further attention of the House, without other essential ingredients," he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment