Sen. Lutchmedial: Senator Vieira has displayed bias and ignorance of facts
I have taken note of the comments of Senator Vieira carried in Saturday’s Express. I must firstly place on record my disappointment that the Senator would remain silent in the Chamber on Thursday, but choose to attack the Opposition through the media. If the Senator thought anyone was conflicted, he had a duty to raise it in the Chamber so his allegation could be properly answered.
No Independent or PNM member who sat in the House raised that issue, which is surprising as they are all quite comfortable raising points that lack substance.
Senator Vieira has displayed (perhaps) willful ignorance and lack of understanding of the issues at hand. He voted against the motion without an appreciation of the salient facts, which is a complete betrayal of his oath of office.
The case he referred to is a completely different issue which does not touch and concern the motion. The issues which form the basis of the motion brought by the Honourable Leader of the Opposition surround the conduct of the President and Bliss Seepersad, sister of his colleague on the Independent Bench.
This conduct, which involves secret communication with an unnamed person, the withdrawal of a merit list after submission and the failure of the President to obey Section 123 of the Constitution has absolutely no connection to any other litigation.
Senator Vieira is a lawyer and the difference in the two matters would be obvious to a first year law student, once they are not wearing “balisier colored” glasses.
The Senator seems to have adopted the PNM style of attacking members of the Opposition with baseless and unsubstantiated accusations delivered with aristocratic condescension. Some have a propensity to accept PNM detritus. That is their choice, but they cannot impose that stance on the Opposition.
Instead of parroting PNM propaganda, Senator Viera should read the motion filed by the Honourable Member for Siparia and all the information in the public domain surrounding this debacle. This may provide an opportunity to exercise some independent thought on serious matters affecting the country, instead of commenting on the behaviour of others with sanctimonious piety. If he wants to discuss important matters in whispered tones over tea and crumpets he can do that on his own time.
The UNC will have its voice heard inside and outside of the Parliament. They can mute our mikes but not our voices.
The Parliament is not a place to shield your colleagues, who see no issue with pursuing private interests by voting against the establishment of a tribunal to investigate matters which involve possible wrongdoing by their sibling, but who abstain from voting on matters that affect national interest like the gutting of the Procurement Act.
That behaviour in my view, is worse than what we see in any fish market as the fishmongers and those who patronize them exhibit a higher level of decency, honesty and integrity.
Senator Veira considers the pounding desks and being persistent in verbal protests against the undemocratic conduct of proceedings as being unbecoming of Parliamentarians, but is comfortable with calling citizens “idiots”. The Opposition Senate bench will not be intimidated by the pomp and arrogance of someone who no one voted for, and who refuses to stand for what is right and just.
The false and derogatory statements made by Senator Viera about members of the Opposition and their conduct only serves to bolster the view that the Senator is more eager to join the PNM campaign to silence the voice of the Opposition as opposed to seeking answers on behalf of the population.
We remain committed to our duty despite any misguided diatribes emanating from those who hide behind the fig leaf of an independent title.
Jayanti R. Lutchmedial
Opposition Senator
Attorney-at-Law