A high-stakes parliamentary controversy in Trinidad and Tobago has resulted in the removal of Opposition Senator Faris Al-Rawi from the Senate Privileges Committee, as the panel prepares to launch a formal investigation into alleged improper interference by Al-Rawi and fellow Opposition Senator Janelle John-Bates. The controversy centers on the pair’s involvement in drafting and editing a witness statement for former health minister Terrence Deyalsingh, which was submitted to the Senate’s Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC).
During yesterday’s plenary sitting of the Senate, Senate President Wade Mark confirmed a series of appointments to the Privileges Committee for the duration of the inquiry, which was formally referred to the panel on May 1, 2026. In the reshuffle, Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation will take the seat previously held by Government Senator Darrell Allahar, Opposition Senator Dr Amery Browne replaces Al-Rawi on the committee, and Independent Senator Sophia Chote steps in for Independent Senator Michael de la Bastide. Al-Rawi, who has publicly stated he is serving as Deyalsingh’s legal counsel, will not participate in the committee’s work while he is the subject of its investigation.
The privilege dispute was first raised on May 1 by Government Senator David Nakhid, who filed a formal complaint against John-Bates and Al-Rawi over their documented contributions to the witness memorandum submitted to PAAC. Forensic traces in the document — including tracked edit history and embedded metadata — confirmed that both senators made direct edits and provided input to the witness statement. Nakhid argued that active involvement by sitting parliamentarians in preparing or revising witness submissions to a legislative committee undermines the institutional independence and integrity of the parliamentary process, and may constitute contempt of Parliament. He emphasized that all parliamentary committee proceedings must remain fully free of political interference and any attempt to coach witnesses ahead of testimony.
After reviewing the complaint, Senate President Wade Mark ruled that the allegations were serious enough to warrant a full investigation by the Privileges Committee. John-Bates, a former member of PAAC, has already issued a formal apology to the full Senate and offered her resignation to Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles. As of yesterday, Beckles had not announced a final decision on the resignations of either John-Bates or Al-Rawi. John-Bates was absent from yesterday’s sitting due to illness, so People’s National Movement (PNM) Deputy Political Leader Sanjiv Boodoo was sworn in to serve as acting Opposition senator for the session.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar waded into the dispute yesterday, publicly asserting that Beckles lacks the institutional authority to remove Al-Rawi and John-Bates from their senate positions. She went on to launch a scathing attack on the PNM and its leadership, claiming that Beckles is waiting for direction from what she called the party’s “fake elite financiers.” Persad-Bissessar argued that the PNM operates as little more than a political front for these wealthy, unaccountable backers, accusing Beckles of continuing the policies of previous PNM leaders Keith Rowley and Stuart Young — policies she claims prioritize low-wage menial work for ordinary supporters while protecting billions in benefits for connected elite interests.
The Prime Minister also criticized Beckles and the PNM’s policy agenda as regressive, contrasting the government’s current priorities of advancing artificial intelligence data center development, national economic revitalization, new international trade agreements, education modernization, and expansion of both energy and non-energy economic sectors with what she described as the PNM’s 2030 vision: reviving the outdated CEPEP and unemployment relief program (URP) workfare schemes.