That loud noise which was heard in the Parliament chamber at 1 pm prior to yesterday's start of the House of Representatives was not the crash of a piano falling on the credibility of Attorney General Anand Ramlogan. The noise was, actually, PP MP Anil Roberts accidentally upending an empty water glass on his desk. Roberts was busy yesterday (trying to get facetime with the media) on his running fight with Opposition Leader Keith Rowley concerning a Bayshore towers development.
But National Security Minister John Sandy had it tougher in debate when he opined that it was irresponsible that a new officer for the SSA agency had been named in the press. PNM MP Amery Browne led the charge of outraged PNM voices against Sandy's utterance. "Shame...! Y'all sowed the seeds of that kind of thing!" Browne and other PNMites declared. Former Prime Minister Patrick Manning, dismissively waving away Sandy's statements, groused loudly that Government had even divulged his car number.
It took House Speaker Wade Mark to protect Sandy. "If any member wishes to relax, you can take your leave and relax outside but when the minister is making a contribution I'd like the House to observe some silence," Mark intervened. The appointment-and Sandy's comment-may pose the latest challenge for Government which had come out dramatically cracking on the first day of Parliament last week with moves designed to allay public concern regarding crime. That action demonstrated that the eight-month-old administration is in touch with public sentiment as far as T&T's main problem is concerned.
While the new SSA appointee was sanctioned by the National Security Council-which is head-ed by the Prime Minister- questions will obviously arise since yesterday's report pictured the person socialising with others who work closely with the Prime Minister. Government is already attempting to recoup from the furore concerning AG Ramlogan and the grand piano-once "lost" and now found-which hurled a sour note into the administration's New Year path. Ramlogan's string of failed "marks" (and the bussing thereof) could threaten to sink his hallowed title of AG and credibility record with the albatross subhead of Serial Blooper Perp.
The Attorney General, no mere minister, is the second cornerstone of two in a ruling administration which forms the Govern- ment. The Prime Minister is the other. The office of AG has spearheaded Government's corruption-busting agenda and is largely responsible (so far) for piloting its crime and justice legislation, crime and corruption being the main planks of the PP's election salvo against the PNM. Any lack of credibility on the AG's part therefore will obviously impact on perceptions about Gov-ernment's moves in both areas and the PP's image overall.
Indeed, Wednesday may not have been an easy reading day for Government since all three front pages featured issues affecting the administration. Adversely. Though Ramlogan subsequent-ly denied the Newsday front page headline-that he would apologise-his remarks opened up another issue since the hint that he might apologise appeared to have been dropped by one of his colleagues, concerned about his behaviour. It was enough to incense Ramlogan, who subsequently denied the Newsday item and stood his ground against apology. So unapologetic was he that he was able to quip about pianos (and teacups) to the PNM during Wednesday's House session.
PP officials on Thursday confirmed views within the Cabinet were cognisant of the political repercussions of repeated faux pas. However, they said there was support for Ramlogan's stance.
While acknowledging possible repercussions, a PP source said an apology would be to give political life to Manning and more room for him to manoeuvre. "And we not about giving Manning political life...this is a seven-days wonder country-it'll blow over" was the confident concluding rejoiner. While they also acknowledged that an apology may have saved Ramlogan from chances of a PNM privileges motion, they said that he had implied-but did not directly accuse Manning-on the missing piano.
One year challenges-under Kamla
The first year anniversary under Persad-Bissessar's leadership on Monday will be marked by a celebratory bash at Rienzi Complex-UNC's "home" (now being shared with a foundation office of UNC founder Basdeo Panday). Persad-Bissessar's leadership brought great political success for her party plus expansion of her image, political repertoire and reputation. It is her people-friendly stamp on the party's image which has helped buoy its fortunes and continues to be its saving grace in times of political mishap.
How much of the latter as well as the former have impacted on the public may be weighed when Persad-Bissessar addresses Monday's celebration. Monday's anniversary however arrives with a number of Partnership issues pending, apart from ministers' performance, Parliamentary and otherwise. Regarding Parliament, certain House members may be well advised to heed the words of Senate President Timothy Hamel-Smith, who on Tuesday urged senators to emulate the late Sir Ellis Clarke's dignity, decorum and courtesy.
Government this week fell behind in answering parliamentary agenda questions. However, members will get parliamentary grounding with a two-day seminar next week and there are also plans for Persad-Bissessar to address a meeting of state boards and ministers at Napa today, officials said. Elsewhere within the Partnership, issues still hang fire. The COP is awaiting word on further Partnership issues, after the last meeting of chairmen two weeks ago, the party confirmed yesterday. A UNC minister said a report on the first meeting will be sent to the parties before another meeting is held.
Meanwhile, COP MP Roberts' announcement to contest Cop leader Winston Dookeran's post has created the perception of internal COP issues, but not sufficiently enough to distract from the Partnership's problems. Following COP concerns about state board appointments, now come UNC concerns about URP employment-enough for the Prime Minister to shift Couva South MP Rudy Indarsingh from the Works Ministry to Labour. The situation has afforded former UNC leader Panday the opportunity to call the PP to book on behalf of UNC members.
UNC MP Winston Peters' complaint on the issue may not be the only one. Senior UNC executive members said that at a meeting last week, MPs complained about lack of URP opportunities for constituents. If Indarsingh was shifted to Labour-alongside MSJ leader Errol Mc Leod-to secure UNC interests, the question arises whether Persad-Bissessar's stated intention to give Finance Minister/COP leader Dookeran "assistance" is also intended as an overriding measure to secure UNC's interests in Government. The non-portfolio Government members who Persad-Bissessar said will be shifted around ministries are all UNC MPs.
Patrick and Keith caucus
When the UNC marks its first year of new leadership in Couva on Monday, the PNM and its seven-month-old leadership will also be in central Trinidad with a walkabout and a public meeting in Caroni Central. Former PNM leader Manning was absent from the House on Wednesday. But when he appeared yesterday he seemed in good spirits, bussing a kiss on Pt Fortin MP Paula Gopee-Scoon and chatting. An emerging development in the PNM-up to Tuesday-has been meetings between Manning and Rowley, PNMites said Wednesday. The past and present leaders met last year and the latest meeting was on Tuesday at Rowley's Opposition office to which Manning came, a source said. This followed Monday's PNM walkabout when Rowley took a turn after AG Ramlogan for "virtually accusing a former prime minister of stealing a piano." (sic) PNM sources said Manning met with Rowley and PNM's leadership. They claimed discussions were "healthy" and that Rowley "got good information."
Parsanlal for PNM youth officer
However, amid reports of "competing slates" for PNM's March party election, Camille Robinson-Regis' confirmation as a candidate for PNM vice-chairmanship indicates an emerging trend of Rowley loyalists in the contest. Robinson-Regis was a firm colleague of Rowley while he was in and out of Government. Chairman of Rowley's Diego Martin West constituency Sigler Jack-who has been supervising walkabouts-is also contesting the post of operations manager. Other contenders said to be supportive of Rowley are Donna Cox (lady vice chairman), Franklin Khan (chairman), Faris Al Rawi (PRO), Ashton Forde (general secretary). In Sangre Grande on Monday, Paul Mongalas announced he is contesting the youth league chairmanship (and not youth officer, male).
Latest in the race for youth officer (male) is former PNM Information Minister Neil Parsanlal who has also been asked to contest the posts of PRO and education officer. Parsanlal said, "I haven't made up my mind yet." Rowley was correct when he said on Monday that he would be in a better position to say who would win the next general election after PNM's March internal contest. Robinson-Regis' view that Rowley needs a like-minded team also bears significance since widely different views would hamper forward momentum. As PNM painfully learned prior to May 24, 2010.
And on the flip side
"PNM reach..."-That was Minister Jack Warner's view of the Opposition when PNM MP Colm Imbert invoked Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj's name in debate on a motion on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar took a dim view of Imbert's description that day of the Government as "schizophrenic."
Though she protested, Deputy House Speaker Fuad Khan, fast becoming known for a no-nonsense approach (minus grins, grimaces or gestures) submitted that it was not a point of order and overruled the PM's objection.
In the divide-and-conquer category: Jack Warner's barb yesterday to PNM's Keith Row-ley that Rowley was copycatting his former leader with walkabouts.
"Aren't you tired condemning him? He's beaten all over," Warner told Rowley.
If anyone was falling asleep during yester-day's debate, PNM MP Donna Cox ensured they snapped awake when she said, "Mr Speaker, you know man cyah take horn..."
And the last note: balladeer Billy Joel called the AG-he wants the title (of his tune) Piano-man back.
Abu, Patos, Bas, Toney & coup
The commission of enquiry into the 1990 coup attempt beginning Monday, is also expected to aid the PP's stocks since several of the administration's political enemies may be called to testify. Coup leader Yasin Abu Bakr, expected to be the star witness of the probe, told TG Thursday that the commission has written him requesting any information he has, by January 7. But Bakr said: "I haven't sent any information but I'm prepared to have a commission of enquiry into the matter, in Woodford Square, and tell the people what they want to know there." Former PNM leader Patrick Manning was contacted by the secretariat and will be appearing before the commission, it was confirmed. Former UNC leader Basdeo Panday said he replied to the commission that he wasn't sure what information he could supply since he was at home during the 1990 incident and wasn't involved after. "But I'll co-operate" he added.
COP's Joseph Toney said he submitted a statement. The secretariat of Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj-overseas-stated that he wasn't contacted by the commission. First hearings are expected to focus on submissions.