The MMM held a press conference on saturday morning. In addition to Paul Bérenger, Rajesh Bhagwan and Joanna Bérenger also spoke. They spoke at length on their expulsion and suspension. However, Paul Bérenger sent a warning to the Speaker of the National Assembly regarding Arvin Boolell.
Paul Bérenger explained that he had carefully read the Speaker’s statement last Tuesday. For him, Sooroojdev Phokeer is about to do something illegal. “He wants to take action against Arvin Boolell, who is supposed to take his seat on Tuesday. But the Standing Orders clearly state that anything done or said outside Parliament cannot be brought back into the Chamber,” he said.
The Speaker is accusing the PTr leader in Parliament of having made disparaging remarks against him on a radio station. On Tuesday, Sooroojdev Phokeer stated that he is considering taking action against Arvin Boolell. But Paul Bérenger insists that Parliament cannot sanction an MP for remarks made outside the Chamber. For the MMM leader, the only option is for the Speaker to refer the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions who will decide whether to take action against the MP in question.
There was no apology on Jasmine Toulouse, deplores Bérenger
In a press conference this morning, Paul Bérenger strongly criticised the Speaker over the suspension of Rajesh Bhagwan and Joanna Berenger. He then added: “And above all, there has been no apology or regret from the Prime Minister” regarding the Jasmine Toulouse case. He deplored the fact that the Head of Government did not see fit to apologise to the former Purple candidate for No 14.
Joanna Berenger, for her part, returned to her expulsion and suspension. She said that there is no reason, when you go through Hansard, to justify such sanctions. She also deplored the way the Speaker is putting pressure on the Sergeant-at-Arms.
