Speaker asks Newallo-Hosein to take her seat

Christine Newallo-Hosein  -
Christine Newallo-Hosein -

SPEAKER Bridgid Annisette-George ordered Cumuto/Manzanilla MP Christine Newallo-Hosein to sit after she seemingly ran afoul of the standing orders in the House of Representatives on Friday during debate on the Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2019.

The bill allows exemptions from copyright so as to allow creative works to be made more widely accessible to visually and hearing impaired people.

As Newallo-Hosein contributed, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi rose repeatedly to object that she was being irrelevant. The Speaker agreed each time.

At one point the MP hailed disability-rights advocate the late George Daniel, supported by Dr Fuad Khan as acting chief whip who said the bill referred to disability. Annisette-George was not convinced, saying the bill was not broadly about disability but referred to the visually and hearing impaired. Newallo-Hosein then mentioned the Equal Opportunities Act, again incurring the AG’s objection. The Speaker warned, “Be relevant or take your seat.”

Newallo-Hosein continued, saying the AG had spoken about treaties (the Treaties of Marrakesh and Beijing being applied by the bill) but had not spoken of the Rio Treaty, in a jibe at the Government over the recent visit to TT of Venezuela Vice President Delcy Rodriguez. Both the AG and Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh rose to object.

Annisette-George needed no prodding. “Take your seat,” she told Newallo-Hosein, who walked away from the podium to her seat before her speaking time had expired.

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"Speaker asks Newallo-Hosein to take her seat"

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