De Lima wants Jack to apologise

Congress of the People member Vernon de Lima has written to the Parliament asking for National Security Minister Jack Warner to apologise for claiming he attended a meeting at the home of businessman George Bell. 

Warner told Parliament last week Friday that De Lima was one of the people who attended the meeting which he said was intended to destabilise the country. But De Lima has denied attending the meeting. He wrote to  Speaker Wade Mark on Wednesday. In the letter De Lima is also denying Warner’s claim.

COP leader, Legal Affairs Minister Prakash Ramadhar, also sent a supporting letter to Mark.  De Lima is calling on Warner to apologise for his claim and also wants the minister to be fired.

Warner spoke last week Friday during his contribution to the debate on legislation to amend the Defence Act. De Lima and Bell have denied his attendance at the meeting but Warner has insisted he has information to support his claim.

Bell said it was to discuss issues affecting citizens and there was no one by the name of Vernon de Lima in attendance. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said on Monday if Warner was unable to provide supporting evidence he would have to withdraw the statement.

Debate on the bill, which seeks to give soldiers police powers of arrest, will resume when the House of Representatives meets at Tower D, Waterfront Complex, Port-of-Spain, at 1.30 pm today.