Valley: My remarks should not have been reported
Trinidad Express
Juhel Browne
Monday, May 7th 2007
Leader of Government Business Kenneth Valley says that his remarks concerning High Court Judge Amrika Tewarie-Reddy, during Friday's sitting of the House of Representatives, should not have been reported by the media.
"It was across the floor banter. I was not on my legs. It was not a matter that the Speaker was supposed to hear, far less strangers," Valley said yesterday.
"It should not have been reported. Strangers have no right to take that into consideration."
Sounding upset about the media reports, Valley was referring to the fact that the media is regarded, under Parliamentary procedure, as "strangers to the House" and that the cross talk was not part of the officially recorded part of Friday's proceedings.
"The Speaker did not intervene. Strangers, regardless of their rank, have no right interfering in the business of the House," he said.
During Friday's sitting, Valley was heard making remarks concerning Tewarie-Reddy's decision in favour of Foreign Affairs Ministry accounting executive Feroza Ramjohn, in a judicial review against Prime Minister Patrick Manning's decision to block her from taking up a posting at the nation's High Commission in London.
Asked for further comment on the issue yesterday, Valley said, "Whatever I say I will be saying in the Parliament."
Valley's comments have sparked strong responses from Chief Justice Satnarine Sharma, who said they should have been considered as a breach of Parliamentary privilege.
In the official record of all sittings of the Lower House and the Senate, the Hansard, cross talk is literally recorded as the words "cross talk".
Any remarks made during cross talk, therefore, are not recorded in the Hansard and is, therefore, not regarded as official statements made during the Parliament sittings and would not be covered by Parliamentary privilege.
Under the Lower House Standing Orders, strangers, who are anyone who is not an MP, Senator, presiding officer or member of the Parliament staff, may be present in the Chamber of the House in places set apart for them, such as the public gallery, "under such rules as the Speaker may make from time to time for that purpose".
Standing Order 88 stipulates the Speaker may grant "a general permission to the representative of any journal or newspaper or other medium of public information to attend the sittings of the House under such rules as he may make from time to time for that purpose".
The Standing Order also says, "If such rules are contravened, such permission may be revoked."
