(Trinidad Express) The longest debate in the history of Parliament concluded yesterday with House Speaker Wade Mark announcing there will be an investigation into an alleged altercation between the Prime Minister’s National Security Adviser Gary Griffith and Laventille East Morvant MP Donna Cox.
Beginning last Friday, Parliament debated Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley’s motion of no-confidence in Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for over 27 hours at Tower D of the Port of Spain International Waterfront Complex.
There were times when the Chamber became heated with accusations and insults being hurled across the floor, however, a face-to-face confrontation occurred outside the Chamber between Cox and Griffith at approximately 3.30 a.m after Cox had heavily criticised Griffith in her contribution.
Parliament had taken a half-hour break at that time for members to have something to eat.
Cox claims as she was exiting the Chamber in the company of Diego Martin Central MP Dr Amery Browne, she was confronted by Griffith, who threatened her.
The tea room is situated on the upper floor of the Chamber, so members take an elevator.
The Sunday Express learned Cox had at first ignored Griffith, but this time, she responded to his verbal threats after he allegedly ran up the stairs to meet her on the next floor and again accosted and threatened her.
Approached by the Sunday Express yesterday, Cox refused to disclosed the details of the alleged exchange, except to say she was very fearful and intimidated. She said she made an official report to Mark, and the matter will be investigated.
Griffith denied he attacked Cox, saying it was she who was, in fact, confrontational towards him.
“At no time was any threat made by me, that is totally false,” Griffith told the Sunday Express.
He said he never spoke to Cox but was talking to Browne about a matter when she (Cox) started attacking him.
Griffith confirmed Cox was in the elevator, and he claimed it was she who followed him and proceeded to continue attacking him when they met again on the next floor.
Griffith said he has a witness to support his case—a media person whom the Sunday Express learned is the Prime Minister’s personal photographer, Nicholas Ramjass.
It was Diego Martin North East MP Colm Imbert who drew attention to the matter before the start of his contribution yesterday morning.
He first noted a part of Rowley’s motion of no-confidence in the Prime Minister, which states there is an absence of effective management of officers under the control of the Prime Minister, resulting in persistent confusion and encouragement of wrong-doing in the conduct of the national affairs of Trinidad and Tobago.
“An incident occurred where the national security adviser to the Prime Minister laid in wait for the Member of Parliament for Laventille East/Morvant,” said Imbert as the Leader of Government Business Roodal Moonilal interjected, objecting to his statements.
Mark intervened saying, “It has been brought to my attention by the member; I’ve asked the marshal to enquire into that matter,”,
Imbert insisted the population needs to know what happened, “The security adviser to the Prime Minister threatened the member for Laventille East/Morvant in this very Chamber tonight, and that is why it is difficult to have confidence in the Prime Minister because this is yet another example of the people she has around her. They are forcing her to fall into disrepute, and she turns a blind eye to these things; the member (Cox) was physically intimidated, Mr Speaker, and I hope there is a proper investigation on this matter and it is dealt with appropriately because it could have very serious consequences.”
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