PAAC Rejects Former Health Minister’s Conditions For Appearing At Pharmaceuticals Inquiry
The Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC) has firmly rejected conditions set by former Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh, describing them as an attempt to dictate the terms under which he would appear before the committee’s inquiry into the State’s acquisition of pharmaceuticals.
The Committee opened Friday’s hearing with a direct response to Mr Deyalsingh after a letter he sent to the Committee allegedly became public.
Chairman of the Committee, Jagdeo Singh, said he received the letter from Mr Deyalsingh on Tuesday, in which he sought an in-camera meeting after raising concerns about disclosure and allegations of bias.
He said Mr Deyalsingh will be treated with fairness and respect but made it clear that the committee would not make special arrangements for any witness.
“Let me make it abundantly clear that no witness sets the procedural rules of this committee. That is a matter which falls entirely within the jurisdictional bailiwick of the members of this committee.”
The chairman said Mr Deyalsingh would receive the same treatment as any other witness appearing before the committee.
“So this committee intends to make no special arrangements for any witness, whether they be an acting minister, former minister, former member, we don’t intend to do that. Mr Deyalsingh needs to recognise that before this committee, he is a mere witness. That’s all he is. A mere putative witness. That’s all. Nothing more, nothing else. And he will be accorded the highest level of procedural fairness.”
The committee also rejected reported requests for a private, in-camera hearing.
“The decision as to whether there are in-camera meetings is a matter solely within the remit of this committee and its members. No witness is going to dictate to us whether we hold private or public hearings. No witness.”
The Chairman suggested the procedural objections from Mr Deyalsingh were being used to avoid appearing before the inquiry.
“This is what I describe as a Potemkin village intended really to mask Mr Deyalsingh’s intention of not coming to give evidence, because these are untenable conditions Mr Deyalsingh wants to impose on this committee, and the committee by way of majority has decided we are not going to be bound by those.”
Following this statement from the Chairman, the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee resumed its inquiry into pharmaceutical importation and approval processes with testimony from former Chief Medical Officer Dr Roshan Parasram.
