Govt seeks to haul Rowley before Privileges Committee

The Government yesterday called for Opposition Leader Keith Rowley to be brought before Parliament’s Privileges Committee for impugning the integrity of Senate President Timothy Hamel-Smith, among other things, in remarks he made at a PNM public meeting on October 18.

People’s Partnership MP and Minister of Sport Anil Roberts made the request during yesterday’s Parliament session, before Rowley’s motion of censure against Attorney General Anand Ramlogan. Roberts cited several grounds on which he said Rowley committed contempt of Parliament.

The D’Abadie/O’Meara MP said Rowley “scandalised and brought the office of the President into odium, ridicule and public distrust by imputing improper motives to the office-holder, impugned the integrity of the Senate president by ascribing improper motives to him and reflected adversely on the conduct of the president.”

Speaker of the House of representatives Wade Mark said careful consideration was needed as to whether a prima facie case for breach of privilege had been made out. He said he would announce his ruling on the issue at a subsequent sitting.