Government senator Renuka Sagramsingh-Sooklal sent the Upper House into an uproar yesterday when she used an expletive during debate.
Her words caused the Opposition bench to voice their outrage and forced Senate President Nigel de Freitas to lecture members about their conduct and to suspend yesterday’s sitting for fifteen minutes.
The incident unfolded after Opposition Senator Jayanti Lutchmedial-Ramdial brought forward a private motion calling on the Government “to reaffirm its commitment to the principles and the practice of democracy in Trinidad and Tobago.”
Senator Lutchmedial-Ramdial accused the Government of eroding this country’s democracy by interfering with independent bodies like the Police Service Commission (PolSC), the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Integrity Commission.
She told the Senate, “We find ourselves with a government that unfortunately has been characterised and will go down in history as being defined by attempts to delay elections, criticisms and attacks levied against independent offices like the DPP and the Integrity Commission. The ‘bouffin’ of the media and private citizens when they voice criticism and concern over particular matters. Secret indemnity deals struck without the knowledge of the Director of Public Prosecutions. A merit list that can go missing and a Police Service Commission that can collapse. Attempts to interfere with the process of appointing a Commissioner of Police and utilising their majority in Parliament to weaken watchdog institutions like the Office of the Procurement Regulator.”
Senator Lutchmedial-Ramdial used the example of the recent debate in the lower house where the Government sought to amend the constitution to allow the PolSC to appoint an acting Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner of Police for a time not exceeding 21 days without parliamentary approval.
“I am here to call on the Government to cease and desist from their blatant interference in state institutions, public offices and to cease as well the relentless attacks on those whose job it is to hold them to account,” she said to loud desk thumping from her opposition colleagues.
However, in response, Sagramsingh-Sooklal said the opposition senators were hypocrites.
Starting with their political leader whom she called “Kamla the Critic”, she called out Kamla Persad-Bissessar for publicly criticising the President.
“In a media statement dated February 19, 2024, the honourable Opposition Leader criticised our President Christine Kangaloo and the newly appointed chairman of the Integrity Commission, accusing them both of not showing personal integrity in relation to his appointment. Additionally, Mrs Persad-Bissessar said the Government wanted a subservient and passive Integrity Commission,” Sagramsingh-Sooklal argued.
It was at this moment she received her first caution from the Senate President who informed Sagramsingh-Sooklal that the Office of the President could not be used to influence a debate.
However, a few minutes later, Sagramsingh-Sooklal did this again, this time in reference to former President Paula-Mae Weekes.
Again, she was cautioned by de Freitas.
“Member, just remember, the Office of the President is not to be used to influence the debate in any way,” de Freitas reminded.
Rewording her argument and quoting a Facebook post from Opposition Senator David Nakhid on October 11, 2021, the Government senator read, “an attack was made on a high office holder in which that high office holder was referred to in that post as an ‘insipid jack***’,” Sagramsingh-Sooklal said, before promptly taking her seat as this statement brought the Senate President to his legs.
An eruption of protests came from the opposition bench which led to de Freitas suspending the house for 15 minutes.
On its resumption, the Senate President scolded the conduct of the members of the house.
“It should be known by each and every one of you that the responsibility for the decorum of this chamber falls to the chair. I have indicated on many occasions that I take this responsibility serious,” de Freitas said, addressing them.
He added, “I remind all senators that these proceedings are aired live to the citizens of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago who expect a certain level of behaviour in this chamber when we are conducting their business.”
He said what occurred prior to the suspension would not happen again.
Speaking directly to Sagramsingh-Sooklal, de Freitas said, “Senator, that type of language whether quoted or otherwise, is not to be used.”
Sagramsingh-Sooklal proceeded to apologise.