Moonilal: PM has no moral authority

OPPOSITION MP Dr Roodal Moonilal says the Prime Minister has no moral authority to speak on whistleblowers until he acts on the Chief Justice matter. He was speaking with the media yesterday at the Parliament Building, Port of Spain.

He said the Prime Minister speaking on whistleblower protection was “the height of hypocrisy” since on the matter of the Chief Justice the Government deliberately postponed the sitting.

“And that matter has to do with whistleblowers bringing information on the alleged conduct of the Chief Justice.” He said the conduct of the Chief Justice was in public domain over whistleblowers and the Prime Minister has failed to act for more than five months “but today glorified whistleblowers and invited them by this legislation to come forward when he has deliberately and wilfully failed to act on the matter of the CJ.”

He added: “So as long as he fails to act on that CJ matter to trigger or not Section 137 he has no moral authority to speak on whistleblower.”

St Augustine MP Prakash Ramadhar asked how reasonable it was to support the Whistleblower Bill when Section 137 has not been triggered by the Prime Minister. House Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George asked Ramadhar to relate his contribution to the bill in question.

He replied: “How can the Judiciary apply law when it held under a sword of Damocles?” He said the Chief Parliamentary Counsel had expressed concern the bill will not stand up in court and he could not support a “fraud” on the people via this bill.

“This is fodder for lawyers, foolery (sic) on the people of TT.” He also said he does not know if he has a future in the politics of the nation.