Tabaquite MP Anita Haynes-Alleyne is responding to criticism over her absence from Parliament on Friday where there was a vote to extend the period for the Auditor General to examine and report on T&T’s finances.

At the UNC’s 35th anniversary celebration yesterday, party leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar said one MP sent an excuse for not attending while the other 18 were present up to a certain time, with 14 remaining when time to cast votes.

The Opposition Leader to accused them of ‘breaking biche’ and claims had all 19 been present, there would have been a tie, since only 19 Government MPs were in attendance at the time.

She also alleged that such a tie would have forced the House Speaker to vote “no” leading to a win for the Opposition.

In a statement sent to the media and shared online, Mrs Haynes-Alleyne said she sought the leave of the Parliament to absent herself from Friday’s sitting “for personal and private reasons”.

She said, “I am sure Mrs Persad Bissessar needs no reminding that Members of Parliament, even the ones who believe that internal elections should be called when they are constitutionally due, are also human beings and from time to time and may have emergencies.”

She said it was “unfortunate” that Mrs Persad Bissessar presumed “ill-intention” and sought to use her attendance on one Parliamentary sitting to question her work ethic.

The Tabaquite MP also sought to address what she says are “inherent fallacies”.

She insisted the motion required only a simple majority, adding that if Government did not have the numbers to pass it on Friday, it would have simply adjourned the House and passed it on a different day.

She went on to state, “As we celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the United National Congress, it is my sincerest hope that we can commit to advancing policy over propaganda and abstaining from unethical and unfounded personal attacks. I stand resolutely behind the call to adhere to the democratic principles of the Party and I hope that my colleagues could save the campaigning until after they have announced the election date.”

The five MPs that missed the Parliamentary vote were also said to be absent from the UNC’s celebration yesterday.

A report by Guardian Media listed them as Anita Haynes-Alleyne, Dr Rai Ragbir, Rodney Charles, Dinesh Rambally and Rushton Paray.