Jack Warner deems it spiteful and vindictive of the Speaker to declare St Joseph MP Herbert Volney’s seat vacant yesterday. Under Section 49 A of the Constitution, Speaker Wade Mark called on Volney to cease performing his duties as MP. Volney shook hands with Warner after hearing the news and waved his hand backward at the chamber while walking out. Warner, the ILP leader and MP for Chaguanas West, called on Volney to resign and have the government tried in the court of public opinion. “I think it is vindictive. I think it is provocative. It is an attempt to frustrate any of those members on the other side who were even having thoughts about joining the ILP. I don’t think what was done today was constitutionally right. I believe Mr Volney has a case and will win in any court.
“I will urge him and beg him to resign his seat officially—still fight the case, but let us take Mrs Persad-Bissessar and her government on in the court of public opinion, since they are so strong and powerful. Since they can railroad their way throughout, let Mrs Persad-Bissessar, SC, MP, come to St Joseph and fight. “In the meantime, I told Mr Volney I will act in Parliament as the representative for St Joseph and Chaguanas West. “What was done today was a travesty of the worst kind,” he said. He challenged the PM to allow the UNC and ILP to face off in a by-election for the now vacant seat. He said the action by Persad-Bissessar had destroyed Volney, recalling that Persad-Bissessar sat down in Dr Suruj Rambachan’s house with Carlos John, Rambachan and Volney and begged him to leave the bench.
He said there was a God and, “Mark my words, Mrs Persad-Bissessar and every one of them on that bench will pay for what happened here today.” Asked if he would support Volney in a by-election, Warner said, “I will beg him not to fight it in court. I will beg him to step down. Let them face a by-election. “But in the meantime let the prime minister and her party, the members she has there who are now having their fun, let them fight this in the court of public opinion.” Asked if he would support Volney as an ILP candidate for the election, Warner said, “Mr Volney told me he is no longer interested in electoral politics. So whatever happens he was never going back in any case.” Warner said he will put up a candidate to fight if there is a by-election.