Senior Political Reporter
House Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George will rule at the next Lower House sitting on Princes Town MP Barry Padarath’s request to have Public Utilities Minister/ Lopinot Bon Air West MP Marvin Gonzales referred to Parliament’s Privileges Committee regarding alleged remarks Gonzales made on TSTT’s cyberbreach.
Padarath made the request in Parliament yesterday. He noted that on November, fellow Opposition MP Rudy Indarsingh (Couva South MP) had asked Gonzales if any of TSTT’s data was compromised in the cyberattacks. Padarath noted Gonzales said that based on the safety protocols that were triggered when the incursion was detected, TSTT’s data and the data of its customers were not in any way compromised.
Padarath said less than a week later, Gonzales was quoted in an Express November 6 article stating “that there was in fact some compromise on customer data.”
Padarath claimed, “The utterances by the Minister of Public Utilities clearly show that he misled this House. The Member knew or ought to have known that the statements he made were deliberate untruths, false, inaccurate and misleading to the House and the public.
Padarath quoted David McGee’s Parliamentary Practice in New Zealand, adding, “As such, I submit that the Honourable Member has committed a breach of privilege of the House.” he stated.