Saddam Hosein blanked on Darryl Smith question

OPPOSITION Senator Saddam Hosein has asked if Sport Minister Darryl Smith was the official named in an Industrial Court settlement related to a sexual harassment allegation in the Sport Ministry, but was blanked by Senate President Christine Kangaloo.

In the Senate yesterday, Hosein raised the issue of taxpayers covering the cost of a $150,000 settlement by the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs and had asked as an urgent question what was the basis for the settlement.

Leader of Government Business Franklin Khan said the settlement was from a trade dispute filed by a union naming the Sport Ministry and the Chief Personnel Officer as responding parties. He explained the matter involved a claim for dismissal that was not in accordance with good industrial relations practices and the matter was settled on advice from external counsel.

Hosein then asked what was the Government’s and ministry’s policy on settlements for claims regarding wrongful dismissal and sexual harassment under the guise of non-disclosure agreements using taxpayers’ funds, but Kangaloo said she would not allow that question. Hosein then asked: “Could the minister categorically deny or confirm, yes or no, that the Minister of Sport is the minister who is named...” but Kangaloo stopped him, saying she would not allow the question, and moved on to the next question.

Newsday reported last Sunday that $150,000 was awarded to Smith’s former personal secretary, who challenged her termination in the Industrial Court after an allegation of sexual impropriety against a high-ranking ministry official.

At the start of the sitting yesterday Kangaloo welcomed back Government Senator Avinash Singh, who had been hospitalised after he was stung by bees on his farm in Chaguanas.