In a significant parliamentary development, Speaker Jagdeo Singh has formally dismissed a privilege motion initiated by Diego Martin North East MP Colm Imbert against Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar. The Speaker’s ruling, delivered on December 9 following extensive deliberation, characterized the contentious exchange as “stillborn” due to its inherently lighthearted nature during the November 21 parliamentary session.
Speaker Singh’s comprehensive judgment emphasized that the verbal exchange between the political leaders was widely perceived as casual banter rather than a serious constitutional breach. The ruling further clarified that no substantive evidence indicated intentional obstruction or impediment of parliamentary duties, thereby negating the grounds for privilege violation proceedings.
The controversy originated from a heated moment during parliamentary proceedings when Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar cautioned Imbert against gesturing toward her, stating, “Because I will cuff you down” in response to his defiant “Why not?” retort. Government Business Leader Barry Padarath subsequently accused Imbert of deliberately provoking the Prime Minister and instigating the conflict—an allegation Imbert has consistently denied.
This ruling represents a significant precedent in Trinidad and Tobago’s parliamentary protocol, reinforcing the distinction between informal interpersonal exchanges and substantive breaches of parliamentary privilege. The decision underscores the Speaker’s role in maintaining decorum while recognizing the occasional inevitability of political tensions within legislative debates.