A sixth meeting of the Privileges Committee of the House of Representatives is scheduled for tomorrow, as investigations continue into remarks by Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley during his presentation of a motion on May 20 of no confidence against Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. The meeting is scheduled to start at 9.30 am. The committee, chaired by Speaker Wade Mark, met for more than three hours at the Parliament yesterday.
Tomorrow’s meeting is expected to be critical, as the committee is seeking to complete its probe and submit a report and recommendations before Parliament wraps up its current session. The Parliament is to be prorogued at midnight on July 10 and the matter must be completed before that date or it will lapse. Last year a similar matter against Rowley lapsed because the committee work was incomplete when the session was prorogued. The next meeting of the House of Representatives is scheduled for Friday at 1.30 pm. A report from the committee could be brought to the House then for consideration and action.
Sources say if Rowley is found guilty of any breach or contempt of Parliament by the committee, he can be reprimanded, suspended or expelled. Some parliamentary sources say it is unlikely the second or third options will be recommended. Rowley has already said he retains the right to challenge the matter in court. Rowley’s legal team is led by Douglas Mendes, SC, and includes Michael Quamina, Stuart Young and Opposition Senator Faris Al-Rawi.