Standing Finance Committee (SFC) chairman Jagdeo Singh yesterday issued a formal apology to Laventille West MP Kareem Marcelle, after being accused by Opposition members of making a disrespectful and inappropriate remark during the proceedings.
The exchange occurred as Marcelle attempted to get clarity from Minister of Justice and Minister in the Ministry of the Attorney General, Devesh Maharaj, on how much of the $54 million requested as supplementary funding for legal fees would be used to pay attorneys for past matters versus future cases.
However, before Maharaj could respond, Minister of Legal Affairs Saddam Hosein interjected, accusing the Opposition of hypocrisy for questioning Government spending on legal services.
“I know today is Monday but today is not the UNC Monday Night Forum,” quipped the Laventille West MP in response.
As Marcelle attempted to press his inquiry further, Singh interrupted, commenting on Marcelle’s professional background.
“I don’t want to be even remotely deprecatory. I understand that you’ve recently been admitted to the bar. It would be difficult if not impossible for anyone, given the context of the answer given, to allocate percentile amounts to past and future…”
This remark prompted Port of Spain North/St Ann’s West MP and former Energy minister Stuart Young to object strongly.
“Mr Speaker, what does a member being admitted to the bar have to do with anything? So is it that only lawyers can ask questions related to fees?”
Marcelle, clearly frustrated, responded by repeatedly shouting: “It is highly disrespectful!”
MP for Diego Martin North/East and former Finance Minister Colm Imbert also condemned the chairman’s intervention.
“Mr chairman, I have participated in at least 40 finance committee meetings already, 15 of which would have been under the UNC. This is the first finance committee meeting where I see the chairman, your good self, venturing opinions, seeking to clarify statements made. It is simply wrong. It is wrong!”
Singh initially defended his actions, saying: “All I can say is that I am simply trying to help the process along ... I am simply adding context.”
But Imbert remained firm in his criticism.
“Chairman, you are not supposed to get involved in the discussion.”
Recognising the backlash, Singh conceded that his comment may have been inappropriate and offered an apology to Marcelle.
“If you are of the view... for that I apologise sincerely. Member for Laventille West, I did not mean—and I said I meant—to be as least deprecatory as possible. It was not intended to be that way. I simply was lending a context to the question because we’ve been spending a lot of time on a question that the two ministers have answered.”
Singh then moved on to the next item on the agenda.