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Minister of the People, Social Development and Family Services Vandana Mohit, left, in Parliament. FILE PHOTO - OPPOSITION and government MPs engaged in a tit-for-tat for four hours over questions by the former to the latter about the National Recruitment Drive, vacancies at the Social Development Ministry, their respective political histories and the personalities of respective government and opposition MPs.
This scenario played out during a meeting of the Standing Finance Committee in the House of Representatives on October 21, before the committee approved a budgetary allocation of $6,012,215,208 for the ministry.
Government and opposition MPs often traded barbs with each other while Speaker Jagdeo Singh appealed to both sides for order.
Social Development Minister Vandana Mohit estimated there were approximately 634 vacancies to be filled in her ministry.
Port of Spain North/ St Ann's West MP Stuart Young asked whether the National Recruitment Drive launched by government on October 19 was intended to fill some of those vacancies. Mohit said the drive was not intended to fill vacancies in posts which fall under the purview of the service commissions.
"That question is not related to that line item."
Mohit then told Young, "It is not for you to determine."
Young countered, "That is for the chair (Singh)."
Singh advised Young and Mohit to move on to the next item.
Port of Spain South MP Keith Scotland asked if former Cepep and URP workers would be able to apply to the drive to get jobs.
Mohit said, "Anyone can apply." Government MPs thumped their desks in support.
Scotland asked Mohit, "Can you tell us, Madam, what are the qualifications for these vacant posts which have been advertised."
Mohit referred back to Young's questions about specific posts at the ministry.
"These are established positions and these are filled by the service commissions which members opposite are aware of."
Scotland said, "I understand the answer but there is a dissonance."
He asked Mohit, "Can you tell us what are the qualifications, because you said anyone can apply, can you tell us, Madam, what are the qualifications for these posts?"
Responding to an inaudible response from the government benches, Scotland said, "I know that will be in your craw. You will never live it down. Never see, come see."
Singh said, "There is absolutely no need for this.This is really an unproductive exchange."
Scotland repeated his question. "Madam, can you answer the question?"
Singh asked Mohit if she was able to answer Scotland's question.
Mohit said, "We will attempt to acquire the information and circulate accordingly."
Scotland repeated his question.
Mohit said, "I will attempt to as soon as I can."
Diego Martin North/East MP Colm Imbert and Mohit argued over whether allocations to certain divisions of the ministry were sufficient. Singh told Imbert both Mohit and Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo had indicated earlier in the meeting that the allocations were adequate.
Imbert recalled Tancoo indicated these allocations include increases in salaries recommended for certain public officers in the 120th Salaries Review Commission (SRC) report which was approved under the former PNM government before the April 28 general election. He repeated his question.
Tancoo said, "We are comforted in the belief that the allocation that has been provided in the documents in front of you are sufficient to meet the needs of the ministry."
Imbert objected. "It's not an answer to my question. I just want to know whether $1,414,000 is sufficient."
Tancoo said, "I already said so."
Imbert countered, "So you are saying yes?"
Tancoo repeated government was comfortable with the allocation.
Government MPs thumped their desks when Mohit said Imbert was well aware about budget exercises.
Imbert told Mohit, "Answer the question."
Singh told Imbert, "Stop badgering the minister."
Imbert said he was not doing so, but Singh maintained he was.
Imbert said, "The minister is not answering the question."
Singh said, "Yes. But you are not entitled to shout at her like that."
Imbert asked, "So what am I entitled to do, sir?"
Singh advised Imbert he could ask questions but could not be borderline badgering.
Mohit said Imbert would know the answers to his questions as a former finance minister.
Imbert replied, "I am aware? What a joke."
Young asked if allowances were being decreased for certain officers at the ministry.
Mohit replied, "Asked and answered as I said earlier about one less DPS (deputy permanent secretary)."
Young asked if one deputy PS received $442,000 for the year in terms of allowances.
Mohit said this figure catered for officers mentioned in the SRC report only.
She added the ministry currently has one deputy PS and two permanent secretaries.
Mohit claimed the PNM was attacking the integrity of public servants at the ministry.
Imbert accused Legal Affairs Minister Saddam Hosein about beind "childish." He added Hosein claimed he was "aged."
Hosein claimed Imbert could not handle the PNM's election loss in April. He told Imbert, "Humble yourself."
Singh again appealed to government and opposition MPs to refrain from insulting each other.
As Diego Martin Central MP Symon de Nobriga asked a question, Mohit said, "This is how they left it and we are attempting to fix it." De Nobriga expressed regret that he got "a slogan as an answer."
Imbert asked Singh to rule whether it was appropriate for any other government MP than Mohit, Tancoo or Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to respond to questions about the Social Development Ministry's allocation. Persad-Bissessar was not present for the committee deliberations on this matter. To other questions from PNM MPs, Mohit said, "I already answered the question."
Singh described Imbert as "vertically challenged," Imbert disliked the comment and Singh apologised to him Singh then cautioned MPs their argument was turning into a potemkin village. This is defined as a facade or construction created to deceive viewers into believing a situation is better than it actually is.
The term is reflective of fake and cheerful villages built in 1787 in the Crimea, Russia to disguise the poverty that was there.
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