Senator: PP happy over Jack’s problems

There has been jubilation and celebration among some in the PP Cabinet regarding what has happened internationally with Minister Jack Warner, PNM Senator Fitzgerald Hinds has said. “They’re happy. In fact I’m confident the Prime Minister is happy... with all the pretence,” Hinds added. Speaking during debate on a bill to empower the Justice Ministry, Hinds said ministers should bring pressure to bear on those higher up to cleanse the public’s view of Government that it was protecting someone accused of a “very, very serious offence” in the issue concerning Warner. Acting Senate president Lyndira Oudit and Hinds clashed several times yesterday during his contribution, including his reference to the Warner/FIFA issue. When PP Senate leader Subhas Panday called Hinds “foolish” Hinds protested the fact Oudit did not  point out to Panday that the term was “unparliamentary.” 

Hinds told Oudit: “Madame vice president, you did not take him to task on it. You said nothing. Oudit called on Hinds to continue speaking. Both had exchanges a couple more times, before and after that, on Oudit’s ruling where Hinds’ statements were concerned. Oudit said she concurred with the PP Senate leader Subhas Panday on one point when Hinds called on the Prime Minister to deal with allegations against embattled Minister Warner. Hinds also clashed verbally with Panday who had claimed Hinds had appeared on television yesterday around 6 am in his attorney’s regalia—“bib”—when court was not yet in session. Panday accused him of advertising. Hinds and PNM’s Faris Al Rawi took offence, with Al Rawi noting that advertising by attorneys is against the law. Panday withdrew the claim.