00:00Opposition leader Penelope Beckles confirms she's actively reviewing the resignation submitted by Senator Janelle John Bates.
00:08This comes hours after John Bates issued a public apology in the Senate.
00:21This follows her alleged role in assisting former Health Minister Terence D'Alsing
00:26with a written submission to the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee, a committee on which she sat.
00:33Her actions triggered a special report from the PAAC which recommended that both Houses of Parliament examine her conduct
00:41with a motion brought in the Senate today to refer the matter to the Committee of Privileges.
00:48While John Bates has offered to step down, Beckles says the final decision rests with her.
00:53Debate in the Upper House centered around the special report of the PAAC which called for both Houses to examine
01:00her conduct.
01:01The issue has widened with Senator Faris al-Rawi also coming under scrutiny
01:06after it emerged that he too assisted in reviewing D'Alsing's submission.
01:11Despite not being a member of the PAAC, he sits on four other committees.
01:17Among the committees on which he sits is the very senatorial Privileges Committee
01:22that John Bates can likely behold before.
01:26Should Mr. Al-Rawi follow suit particularly because he's also on four committees including the Privileges Committee?
01:33Follow suit meaning what?
01:35Apologize for his resignation to you?
01:38Well, I mean, I have a temporary report and I am also going to move with him.
01:44So the decision is yours?
01:47Yes, as it will be seen him being a senator, definitely.
01:50I am fortunate, yes.
01:52Beckles did not give a time frame for her decision.
01:54Meanwhile, the controversy has already impacted parliamentary business,
01:58forcing a postponement of a Joint Select Committee on National Security
02:02amid concerns over John Bates' integrity and the handling of sensitive information.
02:09Arvishitamwari Rupnarein, TV6 News.
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