Leader of Opposition Business in the House, Phillip Paulwell is raising concerns over the Ethics Committee’s reported decision to summon Member of Parliament Dennis Gordon to reappear before it, despite the matter having already been fully considered and approved by the House of Representatives.

Paulwell noted that the Ethics Committee had already examined the exemption request, reported to the House, and that the House subsequently approved the motion.

“Once that process has been completed, the Committee’s role in that matter is effectively concluded. Any attempt to revisit it must be grounded in a clearly defined new breach and a proper referral from the House,” Paulwell said.

He also noted that this issue was also raised by Member of the Ethics Committee Franklyn Witter.

Paulwell cautioned that the current approach raises serious questions about consistency and procedural fairness, particularly in light of what he said were ongoing concerns about the uneven functioning of parliamentary committees.

Paulwell also criticised the decision to handle the matter in a public forum, noting that the Ethics Committee traditionally operates with a degree of confidentiality.

“We cannot have a system where procedures are selectively applied or where settled matters are reopened without a clear basis. That undermines both the authority of the House and public confidence in its oversight mechanisms,” he added.

The Opposition is calling for clarity on the scope of the Committee’s actions and adherence to established parliamentary rules.

The issue stems from the auditor general’s report into procurement practices at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), which found that the hospital had improperly used its tax-exempt status to facilitate imports for four private companies, resulting in estimated losses of $23.1 million. Among the entities at the centre of the controversy is JACDEN, a company in which Gordon is principal.