NATIONAL Security Minister Jack Warner's use of video footage from the Parliament to bolster claims that the Opposition People's National Movement (PNM) voted in favour of the controversial Section 34 is against the Parliament's broadcast code.

This from Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley as he delivered the feature address at the PNM's post-budget public meeting held at the Starlite Shopping Plaza's car park in Diego Martin last Thursday night.

On September 29, when the People's Partnership held its pre-budget rally at the Mid Centre Mall car park, Chaguanas, Warner presented a video clip showing Opposition Members of Parliament voting "yes" to the Administration of Justice Act (in which Section 34 was contained) in the Lower House.

During his presentation Warner called on the video operator to re-run the portion of the tape that showed Rowley voting "yes".

Section 34 of the Act was proclaimed in August but later repealed.

Rowley raised the issue of Warner's use of the Parliament video footage at the PNM's Thursday night meeting.

"I want to draw something to your attention. There are some people in this country who are not prepared to observe the laws and the regulations," Rowley said.

"Did you see Jack Warner with the Parliament broadcast of the proceedings of Parliament using the vote in the Parliament as part of their rally trying to pappyshow me for their rally? Do you believe that is against the regulations of the Parliament?" he said.

Rowley then read sections of the regulations dealing with Parliament broadcasts:

"That you do not modify the material of this kind in any way or reproduce or publicly display perform or distribute or otherwise use without the written permission of the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago."

Rowley said he checked the relevant authorities and was advised that Warner had not been granted written permission.

Rowley continued reading from the Parliament broadcast regulations.

"And then it goes on to say 'no extract of Parliamentary proceedings may be used in any form of advertising, promotions or other form of publicity, no extract of Parliamentary proceedings may be used in any light entertainment programmes or a programme of political satire or for ridicule'," Rowley said.

"But Jack Warner does not abide by the rules, not even with Parliamentary code of ethics, if the code of ethics does not apply to him, you think the broadcast code will apply to him?" Rowley said.

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