Senior Political Reporter
Opposition MPs Rodney Charles, Rushton Paray, Anita Haynes-Alleyene and Dr Rai Ragbir have hit back at accusations made against them by UNC political leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar during the party’s anniversary service on Sunday.
Charles went further, saying if he provides a history of ‘breaking of biche’ in Parliament—as Persad-Bissessar claimed—it will embarrass senior members of the UNC, including Persad-Bissessar.
They spoke out yesterday after Persad-Bissessar criticised the MPs, including Dinesh Rambally, who were absent from last Friday’s vote in Parliament on a Government motion. The motion was passed by 19 Government votes. The Opposition voted against the motion, but only 14 of the 19 MPs were present.
Charles, Paray, Ragbir, Rambally and Haynes-Alleyne, who’ve been calling for internal UNC elections, were absent.
Persad-Bissessar noted, “people who abandoned the Parliament last Friday.” She said there would have been a deadlock if these (five) “didn’t break biche and run away from Parliament”. In a statement, yesterday, she doubled down, rejecting their claims.
In response, however, Charles said, “I really don’t wish to enter a debate on who ‘broke biche’ or who didn’t ...If I go down that road and provide a history of ‘breaking of biche’ in Parliament, especially since I’ve been an MP, it will embarrass very senior persons in the party, not excluding my dear esteemed political leader. My research staff has been tasked with getting the data on attendance records.”
“What’s of primary importance to me, and many in T&T, is the Natex election date. So far, despite many requests in public and in private, T&T has been unable to get that date and an undertaking that it’ll be free and fair, such that it becomes the gold standard for elections locally and regionally,” he added.
Anita: Abstain from unfounded personal attacks
While Rambally did not respond to the criticism, Haynes-Alleyne did. She said she found herself “in the unenviable space of having to directly contradict the statements of the political leader of the party to which I belong in defence of my personal integrity”.
She explained she sought leave from last Friday’s sitting for personal and private reasons.
“I’m sure Mrs Persad-Bissessar needs no reminding that MPs, even the ones who believe that internal elections should be called when constitutionally due, are also human beings and from time to time may have emergencies.
“It’s unfortunate Mrs Persad-Bissessar sought to presume some ill-intention on my part and use my attendance on one Parliamentary sitting to vilify me and call into question my work ethic. Parliament’s records, which can easily be verified, will reflect my attendance at sittings and parliamentary events,” she said.
Haynes-Alleyne said the motion required only a simple majority.
“It’s entry-level politics to know the PNM Government has a built-in majority in Parliament...if the Government felt they lacked the numbers to pass the motion, they would have simply adjourned and passed it on a different day, because they’re in control of the majority of seats. Mrs Persad-Bissessar is no doubt well aware of this, it’s my sincerest hope we can commit to advancing policy over propaganda and abstaining from unethical and unfounded personal attacks,” Haynes-Alleyne added, repeating calls for the Natex election date.
Paray, Ragbir: Attempt to tarnish reputation
Ragbir said Persad-Bissessar falsely implied he’d missed Parliament in an attempt to undermine the Opposition. He said he’d informed Chief Whip David Lee that he was unable to attend last Friday’s sitting as he was attending his son’s graduation.
“I wasn’t informed there would be any other business in Parliament that day other than the (Opposition) Motion which ended at 6 pm.
“This attempt by the Opposition Leader to slander my reputation reeks of desperation and is obviously linked to her insecurity regarding upcoming UNC internals. I urge the Opposition Leader to act responsibly when providing critical information to the public,” Ragbir added.
Paray said he couldn’t allow Persad-Bissessar, “to tarnish my reputation with false accusations, by erroneously suggesting I attempted to undermine the Opposition”.
He said Parliament records would confirm he was present during the part of the sitting dealingwith an Opposition motion.
“The fact this was a simple majority vote in which the Government has an inbuilt majority, makes Mrs Persad-Bissessar’s desperate attempt to scandalise it beyond pathetic. Mrs Persad-Bissessar’s real objective here isn’t to hold the PNM to account but to attack UNC members who are demanding constitutional internal election,” Ragbir said.