Moonilal: Sending AG to privileges trivial, frivolous

OROPOUCHE EAST MP Dr Roodal Moonilal has described the PNM's referring Attorney General John Jeremie to Parliament's Privileges Committee, over recent comments he made during a "hot mic" moment in the Lower House, as trivial and frivolous.

"Those matters are, to me, as a former leader of government business, extremely trivial and frivolous. One has to understand that in Parliament, there's usual banter and cross-talk. Those things are very common," Moonilal said at his constituency office in Debe on November 26.

He recalled that, over the years, he too, engaged in some of that banter.

"So I don't make too much out of it. I think there are many more important issues facing the country right now than to engage energy in that type of irrelevant and useless escapades," he added.

Opposition Chief Whip Marvin Gonzales, the Arouca/Lopinot MP, at a press conference on November 25, said the referral had become necessary, declaring that it was time for AG Jeremie to be exposed for his persistent use of derogatory language in Parliament.

Gonzales also said the AG was overheard saying to someone in the House, "Hush your mouth, boy, why you ain't take your little man?"

"All members of Parliament, from any particular side, can avail themselves of the proper standing orders to raise a matter of privilege. It is a matter for the Speaker to determine, and they are free to do whatever they want to do. As to whether it will fly or not, that is a matter for the Speaker," Moonilal said.

He was also asked about the visit by chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine on November 25 as well as the Opposition's concerns about Caine's meeting with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.

"These are matters, as you know, of national security, and I would leave those matters to be dealt with by the prime minister and the relevant law enforcement ministers," Moonilal said.

"But I can say that it augurs well for the country that such high-level, and possibly the highest-level military command of the US government has visited this country and is having talks on regional security," Moonilal added.

He added that the threats that people face in the Caribbean from narco-traffickers, drug cartels, and others are very serious.