PNM MP Patricia McIntosh says she will apologise to Speaker Wade Mark and Parliament for her remarks in last Friday’s debate for which Mark called on her to apologise. The Port-of-Spain North MP clashed with the Speaker around 10.34 pm last Friday while contributing to the Finance Bill 2014. It was passed around 3.30 am last Saturday and will be debated in the Senate from 10 am today. McIntosh fell afoul of the Speaker while responding to statements by COP MP Carolyn Seepersad-Bachan, who had complained about the behaviour of PNMites during their March 28 protest outside Parliament. In her contribution, she said Seepersad-Bachan had no moral authority to speak on that situation, since there were three cases of former ministers who were sitting before Seepersad-Bachan who were “booted out of their government for immoral conduct.”
Mark then halted McIntosh, saying: “ I’ve always said do not make any personal charge against any MP or do not raise the conduct of any MP of this House. “Do not use this debate for that. File a substantive motion and do not impugn the character or reflect on the persons who you have made reference to. Do not go there at all. Move on, please.” McIntosh replied: ”Well, thank you, Mr Speaker. Facts, however, are facts...” Mark interrupted her immediately, saying: “Take your seat. You withdraw that statement and apologise to the Chair and to the House.” McIntosh said: “Mr Speaker, I am afraid that those facts are in the public domain...” Before she could go further Mark interjected: “Take your seat, take your seat. Next speaker, please.” During the contribution of the next speaker, UNC MP Jairam Seemungal, McIntosh was heard in the background saying to others: “I said what I had to say. I said what I had to say. It’s the truth. I’m proud of it.”
The T&T Guardian learned Mark later informed PNM whip Marlene McDonald that McIntosh had to apologise or would not be recognised by the Chair if she tried to speak in future.
McIntosh last Saturday confirmed that was relayed to her. Yesterday she added: “In the best interests of my constituents, who elected me to represent them, if it means, according to the Speaker’s ruling, I have to proffer an apology to continue to represent them in Parliament, I shall do so with a heavy heart and a constricted throat. “I have to put my constituents first. To say nothing is not to represent them and deny myself rights.” McIntosh denied a report that some of her comments had been in reference to former government minister Jack Warner. She added: “I called no names.” Her apology is expected to be delivered at Friday’s Lower House sitting. McDonald said yesterday she could not comment on the issue and the PNM was having a caucus later yesterday. Other top PNM officials said they could not force McIntosh to apologise and the matter was up to her.