UNC MP Roodal Moonilal has apologised to Parliament, he'll be speaking in future— and he'll be presenting new information on the alleged "fake oil" matter and pressing Finance Minister Colm Imbert to break his silence about a private housing project.
Moonilal confirmed this to the media yesterday soon after apologising to PNM MP Fitzgerald Hinds and Parliament for alleged threatening remarks made to Hinds in Parliament last October. Moonilal had been under sanction since June— and wasn't being recognised by the House Speaker — after he refused to apologise.
Moonilal had allegedly told Hinds "Snake have lead for you", referencing a Beetham man who'd attacked Hinds once. Parliament's Privileges team had found the remarks to be threatening and called for the apology. But Moonilal who'd legally challenged the team's composition, refused, saying an apology would compromise his case. He also said he'd apologised during debate on the Privileges report. The government recently warned that unless he apologised the "gag" sanction would apply in the upcoming final year of Parliament.
Yesterday, Moonilal apologised, saying "...Without prejudice to my legal matter, I extend an apology to the House and Laventille West MP (Hinds) for the words deemed threatening."
Hinds said, "He's finally grovelled!"
Moonilal later told reporters he apologised given that T&T was in crisis and there are many important issues— Imbert's matter, the HDC/China contractors' cancellation etc - to air. He said he'd sent his apology to the Deputy Speaker and was assured he'd be able to participate in the debate.
He said it wasn't feasible to remain silent in Parliament since his constituents have also suffered. He said judgment on his court matter hasn't come and it was untenable to await this.
He added if he hadn't apologised he might not have been able to speak in the upcoming budget debate. He said he intends presenting new information on the AV Drilling/alleged fake oil issue
Moonilal said he'll also be pressing Imbert to reply to Opposition queries about a Port-of-Spain project. He claimed he had information Imbert applied for approval for it on April 29, 2014, and received it from the POS Corporation on February 26, 2019. Moonilal asked if Imbert had declared his interest in Cabinet and if he'd used Parliament "to approve benefits." Moonilal also claimed there was advance payment by Government to the Chinese firm whose housing unit contract was recently cancelled and that Prime Minister Keith Rowley was Housing Minister when the agreement for the contract was done
He defended Opposition Leader Kamla Persad- Bissessar against Rowley's claim that she tipped off PNM's Marlene McDonald on her recent arrest. He said Persad- Bissessar was absent yesterday due to a virus.