(Trinidad Express) Patrick Manning has been found guilty of contempt of Parliament by the Privileges Committee.
And the House of Representatives meets on Monday to discuss the report and to determine what penalties should be imposed against him in view of the Committee’s findings.
Manning could be suspended, or reprimanded or made to apologise or he could even be expelled (though this was never happened). The Government controls 29 seats in the 41-member Parliament.
Manning was sent to the Privileges Committee following allegations he made in relation to the acquisition of funding for the construction of the private residence of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. He had accused her Government of carrying out the agenda of those who financed them in the election campaign, those “who were involved in the drug trade”.
Charging that Government was undermining the anti-drug effort put in place by the PNM, he had said “Kamla’s Palace” cost TT$150 million and asked: “To what conclusion do you expect us to come? They were struggling to build that house before the election”. The Committee, which tabled its report yesterday, stated that despite having invited Manning to appear before it to answer the allegations against him and to be heard on numerous occasions, “the Member has refused to respond to the allegations before the Committee and has requested adjournments of the Committee’s proceedings for a variety of reasons”.
Manning either did not show up or attended and requested adjournments when invited to attend meetings held on January 21, January 31, February 11, February 18, February 25, April 15, April 26, May 3, May 10 and May 11 .
The Committee said it exercised “tremendous patience and forbearance” in accommodating the Member for San Fernando East and his multiple requests for adjournments of the Committee’s proceedings with respect to this matter.
It said it believed that it had done everything in its power to ensure that he was fully apprised of the allegations made against him and to give him an opportunity to be heard.
“Members felt it was most regrettable that the Committee was limited to deliberating on the verbatim notes of Manning’s contribution and the personal explanation given by the Prime Minister, without the benefit of hearing from Manning. It accused Manning of “frustrating the Committee’s efforts to proceed with its business with expedition”.
The Committee said Manning made very serious allegations against the conduct of Members of the House, “without in any way supporting such claims”.
It noted that Manning’s contribution was “not an off-the-cuff one” and that he was cautioned by the Speaker about imputing improper motives. His response to this was to “serve notice” that he would file a substantive motion but to date, this was not done.
The Committee also took note of the fact that Manning refused to apologise after having heard the personal explanation of the Prime Minister in which she produced documents to refute his allegations. It also pointed out that Manning as a former PM and Chairman of the National Security Council, “would have been privy to very sensitive and confidential information on security matters and as such his accusations would carry weight”.
The Committee, apart from finding Manning in contempt of Parliament, said his absences, attitude and responses to the Committee also suggested contempt for the Committee.
However Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley yesterday accused Government of using its majority to “bulldoze” a report to the Parliament. Rowley said the Report was signed only by the Chairman of the Privileges Committee, House Speaker Wade Mark.
Rowley said this was the first time he has seen a Committee Report which was not signed by the members. He said the three PNM Members objected to the findings. Colm Imbert registered his objection via e-mail on Thursday afternoon when he received an e-mail on the findings of the Committee. Rowley said the PNM registered its objections on Friday morning again through the person of Patricia McIntosh, who is a member of the Committee.
He said yet there is no suggestion in the Committee’s report that there existed a “strong minority objection” from the PNM. He accused the Government of using the Privileges Committee as a tool to damage members of the Opposition.
“And we will fight it to the limit,” he promised.
Rowley said the Parliament which debates the report on Monday would be a “kangaroo court”, given the fact that the contempt finding violated all the rules and procedures.
However an official source from the Committee’s secretariat advised the report was signed by a majority of members – six of the nine members. The three Opposition MPs on the Privileges Committee did not sign the report. Imbert and Donna Cox were absent at the time the Committee approved the report. However Imbert was the only one who indicated in writing that he did not believe that the Committee should report at this time. McIntosh verbally indicated her objection.
Manning has filed a constitutional motion in the High Court to allow his attorney to represent him before the Privileges Committee and the issue is due to be heard on Tuesday.
