Monies owed as eight opposition MPs fail to pay costs awarded in suspension case

In January 2023, the High Court refused to overturn the suspension of eight opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) involved in the parliamentary disruptions resulting in the seizure of the Speaker’s Mace on December 29, 2021.

The eight MPs were ordered to pay costs to the respondents in the sum of $350, 000 each by February 06, 2023.

However, in a letter penned by Attorney General Anil Nandlall, SC, and sent to Opposition Member of Parliamentarian and lawyer Roysdale Forde, it was pointed it out that more than a month after the due date, the monies are yet to be paid.

“To date, there has been no payment of the costs,” Nandlall said pointing out that it was in breach of the Order to Court in a ruling handed down by Justice Damone Younge.

“In the circumstance, I hereby demand payment of costs in the sum of three hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($350,000) awarded in the matter at the caption, be paid within seven (7) days from the date hereof [March 10, 2023]. You are also hereby informed that failure to comply would result in enforcement of the aforesaid Order of Court without further notice,” the letter sent to Forde noted.

The Court found that the Parliamentary Privileges Committee was well within its authority to recommend the suspension and that Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir had the authority to impose same.

The opposition MPs who were suspended are Annette Ferguson, Christopher Jones, Ganesh Mahipaul, Vinceroy Jordan, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, Sherod Duncan, Maureen Philadelphia and Natasha Singh-Lewis.

These MPs were involved in the removal of the mace from its rightful position, causing damages; as well as injured and assaulted a member of staff from the Parliament Office.