Some MPs, including Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar, may potentially find themselves giving evidence in court in preliminary inquiries linked to Life Sport and Prisongate.
This was revealed yesterday by Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi during debate of the Administration of Justice (Indictable Proceedings) Bill which he piloted in the House of Representatives.
During the debate, Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal said it was interesting that Al-Rawi had hastily brought legislation to the Lower House to eliminate preliminary inquiries by January 15 next year and expedite trials. He wondered why it was not done at a later date since Parliament is expected to move back to the Red House next month.
Moonilal asked the AG if he was a witness in a preliminary inquiry to which Al-Rawi responded that “both prior to becoming AG and now” he had made reports to the T&T Police Service.
“It is, therefore reasonable to assume that they may call upon me, as they may very well call upon the Member for Siparia in particular, the Member for St Augustine in particular, who just spoke, and several other members of this Parliament,” he said.
Al-Rawi said he was aware of “matters involving Lifesport . . . everybody opposite . . . Prisongate and a number of other matters.”
He told the Lower House: “So I can say quite confidently that many people in this Parliament here may potentially find themselves giving evidence.”
Moonilal commented that it was useful for Al-Rawi to go on public record with such information.
“This may affect his own statements and his own conduct in proceedings that may be before the criminal court,” the Opposition MP pointed out.
Moonilal said he was happy that the AG informed that House that other members may also be involved but “inadvertently, did not disclose that you may be a witness in a matter.”
Al-Rawi shouted across the floor: “No! No! No!”
“It was inadvertent and it would not have been deliberate . . . and it certainly would not have been malicious,” said Moonilal, who gave the AG a few seconds to explain himself.
“I am not in a beneficiary position in respect of any matter and therefore I am in no conflict of interest for the record,” the AG insisted, stating that Moonilal’s question was speculative.
“For the record, I have nothing to declare. There is no conflict of interest,” he said
Moonilal also trained his guns on Laventille West MP Fitzgerald Hinds pointing out that he has a matter in the Magistrate’s Court. Hinds responded that he was a victim.
“You will have to say when you go to the Magistrate’s Court where you took two of your constituents to court whether or not if this will affect you in any way,” Moonilal fired back.
He added that Hinds failed to visit the court “on four occasions telling them he had Cabinet.”
