Valerie Woods Continues Cross-Floor Sparring with Immigration Minister

Valerie Woods

Senator Valerie Woods added significantly to the debate, supporting the motion for a select senate investigation. Woods said had one been held at the time of the issuance of a passport to Won Hong Kim, a number of irregularities would have been avoided. But when it came to Senator Godwin Hulse’s contribution, he threw a spanner in the works, presenting a countermotion and calling for a joint investigation by both House and Senate. That also did not fly because the Opposition did not withdraw its own motion for a select investigation. Here’s how that went.

Valerie Woods, P.U.P. Senator

“Can I clarify…are we not to name or we keep names in these reports and if so why because these reports were given the highest of authority to be laid before the House and then to the Senate. I want to be clear, I must admit that I thought very carefully about what today would be like, particularly on this motion. One, wondering if it will even be tabled and for that I thank the president. Secondly, wondering if it would be okay…dah old news, ih done happen, wi done get wi lashing, we put in measures…let’s move on. Or would it have been a discussion that took the same vigor, the same passion with other inquiries. Notably, the S.S.B….yes that was a long one—you at government business certainly can attest to that. a government was taken over in three successive terms, I would say that effort was not in vain. Lessons were learnt; painful memories, painful discussions, hurtful ones, perhaps emotional ones. But it comes with the territory of taking up public office and being called to question when needed. Mister President, with the tabling of the, and forgive me I do ask for your permission to refer to my notes from time to time, with the tabling of the Auditor General’s report on these issuances, let’s not forget that the reports do refer to only a sampling.”

As we said, the Church Senator withdrew his support for the motion by the Opposition so the votes went five for and seven against. Interestingly the Opposition also called for Senator Hulse to recuse himself since he was at the head of Immigration during the audit. But that did not happen and Hulse voted against.