Defence Minister Declines To Disclose Reasons For CDS's Removal, Invokes Public Interest Clause
Minister of Defence, Wayne Sturge, has declined to provide details on the removal of former Chief of Defence Staff, Darryl Daniel.
During Urgent Questions at Friday’s sitting of the House of Representatives, Member of Parliament for Arouca/Lopinot Marvin Gonzales sought clarification on the decision amid the ongoing State of Emergency.
In response, Minister Sturge invoked Standing Order 27(G), which allows a Minister to withhold information if its disclosure is deemed contrary to the public interest.
MP Gonzales maintained that Parliament must be allowed to hold the Government to account, but the Speaker of the House, Jagdeo Singh, clarified that he had no authority to challenge the Minister’s decision once public interest immunity was invoked.
« There shall be a 15-minute question period. Then it lists a series of questions. Then it has a G: a Minister may decline to answer a question if, in his opinion, the publication of the answer would be contrary to the public interest. Now, the inclusion of 27(G) is a recognition in these Standing Orders of a concept in law known as public interest immunity. »
The Speaker’s clarification concluded the exchange, reaffirming the Minister’s right to invoke public interest in matters related to national security.
« These 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. The reason for that is very simple: administrative decision-making is not a binary process. It is not for me to second-guess the Minister. I have no such power under the Standing Orders. »
