Manning tells House: “Lock me up too. Look me here, lock me up! Not Calder Hart."

“Lock me up too. Look me here, lock me up! Not Calder Hart."

Suruj Rambachan touched a nerve Friday during the debate on the 2012 budget as he spoke of corruption and squandermania during the Manning PNM administration.

The Foreign Affairs and Communications Minister was speaking after the contribution of Opposition leader Keith Rowley who complained about proposed spending of $50 million for forensic investigations.

Rambachan suggested that the PNM lacked ethics.

“Are you not committed to morality in public affairs?” Rambachan asked Opposition MPs.

“Is the Leader of the Opposition saying that those who rape the Treasury, who engage in corruption, must go scot-free? Is that why Mr (Calder) Hart is in Miami? What about the millions in cost overruns?”

That appeared to upset former Prime Minister Patrick Manning, who has always been a strong defender of the former UDeCOTT executive chairman.

Manning remained in his seat and said, “Lock me up too. Look me here, lock me up! Not Calder Hart." He repeated the comment loudly, prompting Speaker Wade Mark to intervene.

He warned Manning to observe the standing orders that call for MPs to listen to debate contributions in silence.

“Mr Speaker I wish to cooperate with you,” Manning responded, and asked Mark to get Rambachan "to speak the truth.”

Mark was unimpressed and lectured Manning about following the rules, pointing out that Manning was using language considered to be unparliamentary. He asked Manning to withdraw his comment.

Mark said, “Every member of this House is supposed to speak the truth. Do not accuse a member of not speaking the truth. Withdraw.”

Manning eventually obliged but not before letting Mark know that he did not share his view.

“Member for San Fernando East, I want an unconditional withdrawal,” Mark demanded. “Mr Speaker the statement is withdrawn,” Manning replied.