Parliament’s Privileges Committee will investigate alleged
harassment of Opposition MPs by PNM supporters in Woodford Square,
Port-of-Spain, on September 12, House Speaker Barendra Sinanan ruled yesterday.
Sinanan ruled in the Opposition’s favour on the matter
during yesterday’s Lower House sitting.
Two weeks ago, Opposition chief whip Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj
wrote for the alleged harassment issue to be referred to the Privileges
Committee.
Sinanan said a prima facie case of breach of privilege had
been made out by Maharaj on the issue and referred the matter to the Privileges
Committee.
Maharaj sought to make the case that one of the most basic
privileges of MPs was infringed that day: the right to freely go to and come
unhindered from the precincts of the Parliament.
Sinanan said the House of Representatives Act prescribes a
penalty of summary conviction for “any person who assaults, obstructs, molests
or insults any member coming to, being within or going from the precincts of
the House, or endeavours to compel any member by force, insult or menace to
declare himself in favour of or against any proposition or matter pending or
expected to be brought before the Hour or committee.”
He noted that Maharaj claimed Opposition MPs were verbally
abused, molested, insulted and even blocked by persons in Woodford Square.
Sinanan said: “Although the Tabaquite MP did not provide any specific examples in raising this matter of privilege, if indeed MPs were in any way harassed, on their way to the precincts of this Parliament, then undeniably a breach of parliamentary privilege may have occurred.” (GA)
Guardian, Tuesday 30th September, 2008
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