Elena Smith: Chairman is Responsible for Senate Inquiry Report

Aldo Salazar

In leaked minutes of a meeting held last Friday with the National Trade Union Congress, the Prime Minister tells the unions that Senator Aldo Salazar, in his capacity as chair of the Senate Special Select Committee Report on the Immigration and Nationality Department, had complained about the social partner senators except for Pastor Ashley Rocke.  The PM singled out Senator Elena Smith of the B.N.T.U. for not pulling her weight to bring the report to a conclusion. Today, the feisty senator threw it back on the shoulders of Senator Salazar, saying he is the one responsible for the report.

Elena Smith

Elena Smith, Union Senator

“I think it is quite unfortunate; one lawyer told another lawyer—I didn’t say attorneys right—a lawyer told another lawyer that the report wasn’t ready because I didn’t do my part in preparing the report. And I think we’ve all heard Senator Salazar saying to the media that he is working on it; his personal and professional duties have caused him not to be able to complete it on time, but he knows it is his responsibility and he will finish it when he can. So for me to be blamed for not having a report is really beyond me. The standing orders are very clear, the chairman is responsible for preparing that report and presenting to us. If it is that the other senators are not in agreement with what is presented, then we can prepare our own minority report. That is how that happens.”