00:00House Speaker Jagdeo Singh has dismissed two claims of breach of parliamentary privilege
00:05brought by Aruka Lopino MP Marvin Gonzalez against Prime Minister Kamala Pesad-Besasa
00:10and Kufa South MP Barry Padaroff.
00:13The matters arose following public comments made after the defeat of the Low Reform Zones
00:18of Special Operations Bill.
00:20In correspondence sent to the Speaker last Friday, Gonzalez argued that the Prime Minister
00:25made what he described as serious, reckless and unsubstantiated statements which brought
00:31the Parliament into odium and disrepute.
00:34He took issue with remarks in which the Prime Minister claimed that two independent Senators
00:39appointed by the President had allegedly approached a senior government Senator seeking personal
00:44favours in exchange for their support of the legislation.
00:48An assertion, she said, explained the bill's failure.
00:52Gonzalez maintained that statements amounted to grave allegations of corruption and misconduct
00:57against members of Parliament, including independent Senators, without providing particulars capable
01:03of identification, investigation or response.
01:07He said that making such accusations without a substantive motion or referral to the appropriate
01:13authorities constituted an abuse of parliamentary privilege and undermined public confidence in
01:19Parliament.
01:21Gonzalez also sought leave of the Speaker to raise a separate matter of privilege against
01:25Coover South MP Barry Padaroff.
01:27That request stemmed from a media release in which Padaroff echoed the Prime Minister's
01:32position, accusing independent Senators, aided by the opposition, of maintaining a status
01:38quo that benefits criminals.
01:40The release further stated their vote emboldened criminals, abandoned communities and silenced victims.
01:47Gonzalez contended those statements, similarly imputed improper motives against members of Parliament, without
01:54evidence, particulars or due process.
01:57One week later, the Speaker delivered his ruling.
02:00which purport to directly concern, and I choose these words very carefully, which purport to directly concern a
02:08matter of privilege of the House.
02:13The Speaker of the House, I have considered given these two matters very careful consideration.
02:20I have also considered the relevant circumstances of each one.
02:28I have also reflected deeply on the definition and practice of what constitutes parliamentary privilege.
02:40The Speaker of the House said he referred to statutory provisions that pertain globally.
02:45I have also considered the threshold, I have also considered the fact that Standing Order 32 presents a rolled-up compendious
02:57consideration of what has to be met as a question of privilege and the threshold before leave is granted.
03:07In these circumstances, consistent with the ruling of President Mark, I have found that these complaints do not meet the threshold, and I assume.
