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MP Saddam Hosein unjustly ejected from the Parliament
Posted On 02 Jul 2021
In the most recent episode of the trampling of our democracy, today I was unjustly ejected from the House for raising legitimate concerns authoritatively provided for in the Standing Orders.
As a duly elected Member of the House of Representatives, this is my qualified right I am entitled to exercise in my duty to hold the Government accountable in the interest of the people of our country. These concerns relate to whether the Attorney General could have abused his privilege as Member of the House to anticipate matters that are yet to be deliberated at the Committee Stage for the Tobago Bills. It is my view that he cannot.
The Attorney General was allowed to speak for an unlimited period of time by the grace of the unelected Speaker after a motion was raised by MP Camille Robinson-Regis. It is a glaring and undeniable fact that the Attorney General has still not denied that the Amendments to the Tobago Bill were generated from his office. Since the Attorney General had unlimited speaking time, the Opposition should have been given a fair opportunity to raise more than one question to the Attorney General. It is a precedent, the Speaker’s role and function is to remain impartial in the conduct of her duties.
In the most despicable display of politicking and abuse of Parliamentary procedure, the Attorney General was given free range to chastise the Opposition Leader whilst both myself and the Acting Chief Whip was ejected from the House after raising objections for his abuse of the Standing Orders.
Today is undeniably a dark day in our nation’s history as two elected Members of Parliament were ejected from the seat of democracy where the people have placed them to serve. This is in direct contravention to the will of the people of our country. The voices of more than 56,000 citizens between the two constituencies of Barataria / San Juan and Couva South have been silenced. Today’s draconian events are part of the dictatorship that is no longer creeping but galloping.