Ramjattan, in a letter sent to Speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran on Wednesday, stated his intention to move the relevant motion in accordance with Standing Order 32. In the correspondence, Ramjattan asked that the Speaker rule that a prima facie case had been made out against the two ministers and grant permission for the two members “to be brought before the Committee of Privileges and found in contempt of Parliament and penalised thereafter.”
Explaining the basis of the motion, Ramjattan said “when the Minister of Finance in presenting his Motion to Approve Financial Papers No. 5 and No. 6 – more particularly the $4B to be approved for spending for Infrastructural Development and Building as at 11th January, 2010; and when the Minister of Water and Housing [Irfaan Ali] answered Sheila Holder’s question with his utterance – “We are ready” – both these Ministers were knowingly misleading the House, which is contemptuous conduct.” Ramjattan suggested that “it was conduct with an intention to deceive the August Assembly on a money matter which was peculiarly in their knowledge.”
The AFC Chairman noted that in data provided as part of this year’s budget, an additional amount of $4 billion was reflected in the Housing Ministry’s Capital Expenditure for Infrastructure Development and Building during 2009. According to him “unassailable information” which has since been publicised, revealed that the money was released to GuySuCo in December 2009.
Ramjattan said that when the matter came up on February 25, during the debate on the 2010 Estimates, Ali “evaded, avoided and flagrantly refused to answer the very direct questions put to him.” He opined that this action was contempt in the face of House. “Contempt is committed in the actual view of either House, as for example by the prevarication of a witness, by his false evidence, or refusal to answer…” Ramjattan said, quoting from the 21st edition of the Erskine May. According to him, the Minister was like a witness answering questions and was obliged to answer and speak the truth.
The AFC MP also referred to the recent letter that Prime Minister Sam Hinds had written to the Speaker when he was seeking to have PNCR-1G MP Deborah Backer appear before the Privileges Committee in connection with statements she made about torture during a debate. Hinds had said while the legislature and its members were granted several privileges and immunities, this should not be abused so as to harm the integrity of the House or cause a breach in public trust in the elected representatives.
Ramkarran had ruled in that instance that a prima facie case had been made against Backer and she is currently appearing before the Privileges Committee.
