Opposition Parliamentarians walk out of House of Assembly

Members of the Opposition New Democratic Party walked out of Tuesday’s sitting of the House of Parliament.{{more}}

The action was taken following the questions for oral answer portion of the sitting of the House, and was done to protest the failure by Speaker of the House Hendrick Alexander to provide a ruling on two matters raised by representative for the Northern Grenadines, Dr Godwin Friday.

Friday had asked the Speaker for an update on a ruling on two matters that he had asked for in the House earlier this year.

The first was the issue of the Attorney General’s eligibility to vote in the House, which she did during the election of the Speaker of the House in January.

The Attorney General Judith Jones-Morgan is not a Minister of Government, but a public officer. She is, however, a member of Parliament.

“This matter was ventilated publicly, and you have been given a lot of time to respond, and we have not been given the courtesy of a response,” Friday explained.

He added that there was also another outstanding issue on a comment alleged to have been made by Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves at the conclusion of operation Vincy Pac in 2009.

Nigel Stephenson, Parliamentary representative for South Leeward, was made to withdraw his statement on January 25, although other members of the Opposition, including St Clair Leacock, Representative for Central Kingstown, said that he had evidence that the prime minister did make the statement.

Friday had indicated to the Speaker that he had an audio copy on compact disc (CD) of what had transpired in the House back in January, and a recording of the statement made by the prime minister.

According to the representative from the Northern Grenadines, the evidence provided was grounds to have the records corrected in that the prime minister, despite refuting the claim, had in fact made the comment.

However, Alexander responded that he had noted Friday’s comments and would make a decision “at some time”.

This response came after Friday had earlier expressed his dissatisfaction over the manner in which the Speaker responded to the Opposition’s queries.

“I am an elected member to this House, and the only member I am entitled to address a question to is you, in this Honourable House,” Friday said, adding that whenever he asked a question, he did so with the best of intentions.

He added that he also expected a reasonable response or ruling as opposed to what he termed a dismissive manner.

“That is not the attitude that I expect to be treated in this Honourable House,” he continued.

Opposition Leader, Arnhim Eustace took the floor following the Speaker’s response, saying that he had expected Alexander to make a ruling, particularly in the matter regarding the Attorney General.

Eustace continued that based on the Speaker’s response, there was no definite word as to when the rulings will be made and, therefore, the Opposition would take no further part in the day’s proceedings. (DD)