00:00Since the news broke of the firing of Chief of Defense Staff Air Vice Marshal Daryl Daniel a couple of days ago,
00:06the government has been mum under circumstances surrounding his sacking.
00:10Daniel has since been replaced by Captain Don Polo and Member of Parliament for Aruca Lopino Marvin Gonzalez
00:17attempted to have the government account to the public in the House of Representatives
00:21through a question posed to Defense Minister Wayne Sturge.
00:24In light of the current state of emergency in Trinidad and Tobago,
00:28can the Minister give the reasons for the sudden termination of the Chief of Defense Staff?
00:36Minister of Defense.
00:47Mr. Speaker, permit me to invoke Standing Order 27G.
00:58It didn't sit well with Gonzalez, who appeared to have been taken by surprise with Sturge's response.
01:07Mr. Speaker, the purpose of urgent questions and questions in this parliament
01:11is to hold the government to account on critical matters of governance in Trinidad and Tobago.
01:16Mr. Speaker, I would imagine that there is some justification for you to suggest that the Minister's reliance on the public interest is misconceived in some way
01:36that falls within the bounds of these standing orders.
01:39Mr. Speaker, the question was approved for the Minister to come and account to the people of Trinidad and Tobago.
01:47Let me answer that.
01:47Leader of Government Business Barry Padareth intervened.
01:50Mr. Speaker, you alluded earlier that the provisions of the Standing Orders clearly allows for the Minister to invoke in the interests of the public.
02:00So, therefore, we stand on that.
02:02Speaker of the House of Representatives, Jagdeo Singh, explained the Standing Order 27G.
02:08A minister may decline to answer a question if, in his opinion, the publication of the answer would be contrary to the public interest.
02:18These standing orders don't permit me, as Speaker, with any residual discretionary power to challenge, question or call to account the invocation of the public interest by the Minister.
02:34Singh stated for further clarity that he has no residual power to demand an answer of the Minister through that standing order.
02:42Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.
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