By Sue-Ann Wayow
A COMPLETE mockery of Parliament.
This is how Member of Parliament for Oropouche East Dr Roodal Moonilal described the request by the Government to send Opposition Senator Wade Mark to the Privileges Committee.
On Tuesday, Leader of Government Business Clarence Rambharat filed a motion of privileges in the Senate on the basis of statements Mark made concerning Patrick Ferreira who was recently appointed the chairman of the National Insurance Board (NIB).
President of the Senate Christine Kangaloo said a decision will be made at a later date concerning the matter.
Dr Moonilal speaking on Tuesday evening during a virtual session of the Compass Foundation Critical Conversations condemned the Government on the issue raised stating that the Opposition will not be bullied.
He said, “Senator Mark is a very strong man and nobody will intimidate him, I am sure, but that action today is a farce, it is frivolous, it is null, it is void, it is a complete mockery of the Parliament by the PNM government. Senator Mark as any other MP is free to raise any question at all about the conduct of any citizen at all.
“The Standing Orders only limit you in that you cannot raise the conduct of an MP, Minister, President or the Judiciary. You are free to raise the conduct of any citizen of Trinidad and Tobago, you are afforded privilege to do that.”
Dr Moonilal said that the action was the height of wickedness “and it is really the actions of a deranged mind.”
As a person occupying a position in public office, Patrick Ferreira must be able to withstand full scrutiny from the Opposition, the MP stated.
He added, “We will not be intimated, we will not be harassed and we will not be bullied and Senator Mark is on very strong ground.”
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