Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar intends to file a motion of no-confidence against House Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George for allegedly being biased against Opposition members.
She raised the issue with the media yesterday outside Parliament after experiencing several “bias” incidents inside the Chamber during her budget debate contribution.
Persad-Bissessar complained about being treated unfairly when she was asked by a police officer and a member of Parliament’s Communication Department to speak to the media outside the Chamber.
This got Persad-Bissessar upset because only moments before reporters had interviewed Leader of Government Business Camille Robinson-Regis in the Chamber.
The media was advised not to conduct interviews inside the Chamber by Parliament staff.
“There is so much bias. It’s so unfair. They put you all (media) out and allowed the minister (Robinson-Regis) to stay inside there (Chamber) and speak for so long. This is unfair. This cannot continue forever,” Persad-Bissessar said.
She said she had to speak out after several bias incidents that took place yesterday.
“This Parliament has become totally biased in the rulings of the Speaker. What they were allowed to get away with today it is clear bias against the Opposition members.”
In registering her complaint, Persad-Bissesssar signalled her intention “to file a motion of no confidence in the Speaker. I have been talking about it for a while but it has gone too far today. And therefore we will file that motion of no confidence in the Speaker. It is too much.”
She said Parliamentary democracy worked by allowing both sides to Speak.
“So you don’t end up shutting down my speakers (MPs) and even shutting me down to withdraw things and the others (Government MPs) say the most outrageous things and they get away with it. I mean, how much more biased can you be? And therefore I register my contempt and concern for what is basically disrespectful and unequal behaviour and treatment.”
She drew reference to Laventille West MP Fitzgerald Hinds’ contribution, which was allowed to go on, totally in breach.
Hinds said every time he ventured into his constituency and looked across the Beetham Highway, he saw a white elephant called the Beetham Wastewater Plant.
“I remember the Member for Siparia. And I remember SIS...her good friend Krishna Lalla. The man who built her house and she admitted that,” Hinds said.
A visibly upset Persad-Bissessar shouted across the floor “you are not getting away with that in this House,” which caused an uproar in the Chamber.
Annisette-George had to call for order among Members and asked Persad-Bissessar to state under what Standing Order she was objecting, which solicited no response.
Hinds was allowed to continue.
Earlier, Hinds said Persad-Bissessar placed her hands in the cookie jar and took herself silk, which Chief Whip David Lee objected under Standing Order 48.4.
He was asked to rephrase his statement in a palatable manner.
Hinds also took jabs at Persad-Bissessar for giving herself “silk” which he said may be a breach of the Integrity in Public Life Act.
“Herself to herself. ...for your benefit,” Hinds said, causing Lee to shout across the floor “what kind of nonsense is that?”
Again the Speaker had to ask for order, but Hinds carried on saying when they UNC cannot win at the polls and win in the intellectual debate in this House they resort to their friends in the courthouse, stating that there was a judge called Herbert Volney who was taken from the bench and put as a candidate in the 2010 general election.