OPPOSITION Leader Pennelope Beckles has hinted that she will be rotating senators, including Janelle John-Bates, when the new parliamentary term begins tomorrow.Beckles was speaking during a news conference at the Office of the Leader of the Opposition yesterday on Charles Street in Port of Spain.She noted that tomorrow both the House of Representatives and the Senate will convene at the same time.
Opposition Senator: Janelle John-Bates
She said, “I have had the honour as the Opposition Leader under the Constitution to appoint six senators. And now that we have a new session of Parliament, my policy from time to time will be to rotate senators.”The Opposition Leader did not offer any of the proposed names in the rotation, but said, “On Friday when the Parliament opens, I propose to make some adjustments and at that time I will make my announcement.”While Beckles did not refer to John-Bates by name, she mentioned that one of the senators under consideration in the rotation had a matter before the Privileges Committee and had offered a resignation.Beckles said, “In making that decision, I have considered many factors. I have considered the fact that there has been a matter before the Privileges Committee.“So that on Friday, considering all the factors, including the fact that I do have before me an offer of resignation together with all that has transpired over the last couple of weeks or months, and my right to rotate from time to time, which is what I will be doing not just on Friday but I will also propose to do that over the couple years and months—as I said, I will be making an adjustment,” she continued.The imbroglio involving John-Bates is that she assisted former health minister Terrence Deyalsingh in reviewing and editing his witness statement ahead of his appearance before the Public Accounts and Appropriations Committee (PAAC).On April 13, after an in-camera meeting, PAAC chairman Jagdeo Singh adjourned the committee’s enquiry into “The State’s Acquisition of Pharmaceuticals as it Relates to the Current Processes Applicable to its Importation and Approval” following the discovery. The Opposition removed John-Bates from the PAAC on April 21, and replaced her with Opposition Senator Vishnu Dhanpaul.The Government intensified pressure on John-Bates on April 29, when it brought a motion seeking her removal from the Joint Select Committee (JSC) on National Security.Then, on May 1, Government Senator David Nakhid raised a matter of privilege in the Senate against Opposition senators John-Bates and Faris Al-Rawi over their involvement in the witness memorandum submitted to the PAAC.On May 2, the Opposition senator offered her resignation from the Senate.Bates did not face investigation by the Senate’s Privileges Committee after the matter effectively lapsed with the end of the First Session of the 13th Republican Parliament on May 23.The Opposition Leader yesterday also sought to explain why, according to critics, she was taking “too long” to reach a decision on the matter.She said, “Whilst there are those who argued about me taking time, I understand the importance of the judicial process and of justice, natural justice in particular.”Beckles further explained, “I know that it was very important to ensure that natural justice took place. As a lawyer myself of more than 30 years, I recognise the importance of the right to be heard.”The Express contacted John-Bates by phone yesterday and asked whether she had been informed that she would be removed from her position as an Opposition senator.She responded, “No comment at this time.”
