Members of the National Assembly have been warned against issuing press statements, granting interviews or commenting on social media about the proceedings of parliamentary committees before those bodies have reported to the Assembly.
The warning was conveyed in a July 22 letter from Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs, who said Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir had directed that members’ attention be drawn to Standing Orders 101 and 103, governing the confidentiality of committee proceedings and the premature publication of evidence.
This letter resulted in MPs who are a part of the Public Accounts Committee declining to speak to Kiskadee Watch yesterday morning following its second meeting. The meeting was ultimately aborted after APNU members walked out objecting to the presence of Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill. There have been widespread calls and protests for Edghill to resign over the capsizing of the MV Barima and the deaths of at least 73 persons.
Isaacs said the Standing Orders establish clear obligations concerning the confidentiality of committee proceedings and the proper handling of information obtained through the work of parliamentary committees.
“Strict adherence to these provisions is essential to preserving the integrity of the Committee system and ensuring that Committees are able to discharge their functions fairly, independently, and without undue external influence,” he wrote.
It was pointed out that Standing Order 101 provides that the deliberations and proceedings of a committee or subcommittee are not open to the public and must remain strictly confidential until the committee reports to the National Assembly. The exception is proceedings during the hearing of public evidence, where this is permitted by the Standing Orders or the Assembly.
The order does not prevent a committee or one of its members from disclosing proceedings to another Member of Parliament, the Clerk or another officer of the National Assembly in the course of their duties.
It also permits a committee to disclose proceedings to another person for the purpose of assisting in its consideration of a matter, as well as disclosures made in accordance with the Standing Orders.
Additionally, a committee submitting an interim or special report to the Assembly may resolve that some or all of the proceedings connected with that report should remain confidential until its final report is presented.
The Clerk also reproduced Standing Order 103, which states: “The proceedings of and the evidence taken before any Select Committee, together with any documents presented to and decisions of such a Committee, shall not be published by any Member thereof or by any other person before the Committee has presented its report to the Assembly.”
Isaacs therefore reminded MPs that committee deliberations, evidence, documents, decisions and other information obtained through committee proceedings must not be publicly disclosed unless expressly authorised by the Standing Orders or by the committee itself.
“Accordingly, Members should refrain from issuing press statements, granting interviews, commenting on social media, or otherwise communicating publicly on matters relating to Committee proceedings before the Committee has reported to the National Assembly,” the letter said.
It added that whenever the press is to be briefed about the work or proceedings of a committee, the briefing must be conducted only by the committee chairperson or another member expressly authorised by the committee.
Such a briefing must be conducted in the presence of the committee’s other members and in keeping with the committee’s decision and the applicable Standing Orders, the letter said.
Isaacs respectfully requested that MPs observe the requirements at all times, saying compliance was fundamental to maintaining the dignity, credibility and orderly functioning of the National Assembly and its committees.
“Your cooperation and continued adherence to the Standing Orders are greatly appreciated,” the Clerk added.
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