Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley is dismissing claims that the Privileges Committee was unable to complete its investigation into a matter of privilege against him because of his non-appearance. In a statement issued yesterday, Rowley said he would seek to have that misrepresentation corrected in the Parliament’s record. Yesterday’s statement said Rowley was invited to four meetings of the committee; on June 3 at 11 am, June 12 at 11 am, June 13 at 11 am and June 17 at 10 am.
According to the release, Rowley attended three of the four meetings at the stipulated times, but did not attend the June 13 meeting because of a medical appointment. He said on June 17, after he waited outside the meeting room for about three hours he was informed by the committee he could leave as he was being excused. Rowley said it was “quite disturbing that the members of the Government could report to the Parliament that they failed to conclude their work because of Dr Rowley’s non-appearance. “It should also be noted that Dr Rowley intends to take steps to have this misrepresentation of the Parliament’s records officially addressed.”
Rowley was referred to the committee on May 22 after Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar moved a matter of privilege against him for allegedly misleading the House deliberately and wilfully and bringing the House into public ridicule and odium. Rowley had presented a document, which purported to be e-mails from addresses in the name of Persad-Bissessar, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan and other government officials. Persad-Bissessar said the e-mails were fabricated.