Tabaquite MP Anita Haynes has described comments made about her by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad Bissessar after missing the parliamentary vote last Friday as unfortunate.
Persad Bissessar said the Opposition could have defeated the Government on its motion last Friday had the five “dissident” members of Parliament been present.
She maintained that it was convenient for all five to be absent as some of them issued news releases criticizing the United National Congress (UNC) political leader.
Persad-Bissessar on Sunday slammed the five for “breaking biche” from Parliament when the vote was taken to extend the period for the Auditor General to examine and report on the finances of Trinidad and Tobago.
She argued that there would have been a 19-19 tie and the Speaker would have had to cast her vote to maintain the status quo, which means the motion would have been defeated.
However speaking on the Power Breakfast Show this morning , Haynes – Alleyne maintained that one should not be willing to easily state that someone would abandon their duty to country because of internal issues.
Persad-Bissessar said all parliamentarians received a supplemental order paper stating the motion to be debated and maybe if they had read it they would have known.
She said that it was pretty convenient they all left before the vote on a day the PNM didn’t have numbers to pass a motion.
Haynes – Alleyne said any ill intent was contrived and was not based on the reality of the situation.
She insisted that the narrative drew the conversation away from more important issues.