Deputy House Speaker Dr Aiyna Ali has rejected a motion seeking leave to refer House Speaker Jagdeo Singh to Parliament’s Privileges Committee, over allegations of bias and conflict of interest linked to a parliamentary inquiry into pharmaceuticals.
The motion was brought by Opposition MP Marvin Gonzales, who argued that Singh’s previous public comments on the pharmaceutical industry raised concerns about parliamentary standards and procedural fairness within the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC).
During debate in the House yesterday, Gonzales referred to a minority report connected to the committee’s special report dated April 17, 2026, which criticised the conduct and leadership of the committee.
The minority report claimed there had been “a clear and troubling erosion of parliamentary standards within this committee” and accused the chairman of allowing material to be introduced in a manner that blurred “the line between evidence and advocacy.”
Gonzales also pointed to comments made by Singh in a December 16, 2024, Trinidad Express article titled “Complaints Over Pharmaceutical Drug Cartels,” in which Singh, speaking as an attorney, said he had received complaints from clients attempting to import pharmaceuticals.
According to Gonzales, Singh had publicly raised concerns about bureaucratic delays, market concentration and the difficulty new companies faced in entering the pharmaceutical sector.
In delivering the ruling, Dr Ali said she received a letter dated May 8, 2026, seeking leave to raise a matter of privilege against Singh in his capacity as chairman of the PAAC.
Dr Ali said the core issue before the chair was whether a prima facie case of bias or conflict of interest had been established against Singh.
She referenced Maingot’s Parliamentary Privilege in Canada and said the threshold for leave under Standing Order 32 was whether the matter appeared credible on its face and raised a legitimate parliamentary concern.
Dr Ali said the complaint relied on three publications, including the Express article, a Ministry of Health media release responding to Singh’s comments, and a Newsday article reporting both Singh’s remarks and the ministry’s response.
She said Singh’s statements had been widely circulated since December 2024 and noted that the PAAC held nine meetings between September 15, 2025, and the suspension of its work following findings involving Senator Janelle John-Bates.
Dr Ali said no issue of bias or conflict had been raised during those meetings and questioned the timing of the complaint, which was filed after debate on the committee’s special report on May 1, 2026.
“I must admit the timing of this privileged matter raised my suspicion,” she said.
The Deputy Speaker also cited Erskine May’s Parliamentary Practice, 25th edition, which outlines members’ obligations to declare pecuniary interests where relevant.
She said the complaint failed to provide particulars or evidence capable of establishing a conflict of interest or bias.
“As such, the declaration of an interest does not arise,” Dr Ali said.
She added that parliamentarians often bring prior professional expertise, public advocacy and subject matter familiarity into parliamentary proceedings and warned against unfounded attacks on the chair.
“Many attacks upon the chair are, in substance, an assault upon the institutional integrity of the Parliament itself,” she said.
Dr Ali said unsupported allegations could damage public trust in Parliament and reminded members that claims of such gravity must be advanced “with precision, restraint and proper evidential foundation”.
“Accordingly, and for the reasons aforementioned, the material discloses no sufficient evidence capable of granting leave under Standing Order 32(2). Therefore, leave is not granted,” she ruled.
