By Sue-Ann Wayow
A MOTION of Privileges has been filed against Minister of National Security Fitzgerald Hinds for his comments in Parliament toward Member of Parliament for Chaguanas East Vandana Mohit.
The motion was filed by the Opposition United National Congress in accordance with Standing Order 32(2) by Opposition Chief Whip David Lee.
He filed the motion calling for Hinds to be brought before the Privileges Committee after he had allegedly breached one of the fundamental Privileges of Parliament which all Members are entitled to in the “freedom from obstruction, interference, intimidation and molestation.”
The UNC in a press release on Thursday said, “It is the view of the UNC that the unparliamentary, vile and vulgar remarks made by the Member for Laventille West at the sitting of the House of Representatives on 23rd May 2022 not only breached the Privileges of the Parliament but contravened the immunities that are afforded to all Members which must be protected, preserved and upheld at all times. Minister Hinds’ comments were of such an obscene, vulgar and degrading nature.”
Hinds on Monday was cautioned by House Speaker Brigid Annisette-George on his use of certain words while contributing to debate on a motion to approve a report from a joint select committee on the Miscellaneous Provisions (Local Government Reform) Bill, 2020.
A minority report was attached by the UNC to the JSC report on the bill. “When you look at the minority report, so-called, you see the old, traditional, stuffy style of the UNC. The document is almost naked,” Hinds said.
But Mohit complained to Annisette-George after Hinds identified her as one of the UNC members of the JSC.
Mohit said, “This member continues to be very insulting in his terminologies against me.”
When cautioned by Annisette-George on his language use, Hinds replied, “I was commenting on the skimpy report.”
The Opposition stated, “At a time when girls and women are victims of unprecedented levels of violent assault, the vile language and behaviour displayed by Minister Hinds would have given no reassurance that he is capable of treating gender-based violence with the seriousness it deserves. Most worryingly Minister Hinds clearly displays the same misogynistic view of women as those who commit physical and sexual assault.”
