Who’s to blame for NDP being ejected from House?

15.APR.11

Editor: Please permit me to ask some relevant questions and to make a few comments with regard to some current issues.

1 – What were the findings of the OECS Monitoring Team with regard to the results of the general elections of December 13, 2010?{{more}} Did they make a declaration that the elections were fairly contested? I would venture to say that the post election unsavoury behaviour that has been displayed by the opposition could very well be attributed to the fact that their leader has not yet publicly conceded defeat. Mr Eustace undoubtedly has enough sense with figures to know that eight is more than seven. However, his refusal to apply this to the results of the General Elections is contentious.

2 – The Christian Council is late in suggesting that the Representation of the People’s Amendment Bill be put on hold, since it has already been submitted to a committee. This suggestion, in fact, did come from the opposition bench during a sitting in the House. The question arises in my mind as to whether the NMCM as monitors of the General Election did declare their findings of the results of the election of December 13, as democratic and free and fair.

Another matter I would like to point out here is their absence and abhorrence of the contemptible behaviour of the opposition in the House of Assembly during the debate of March, 3, 2011. It would be an unfair and malicious accusation to fault the members of the Government side for the lawless behaviour which occurred in the honourable House Of Assembly.

The Speaker, who is the final authority, made a ruling in keeping with the rules of the House. The Members of the Opposition, following the dastardly behaviour of their leader, conducted themselves in the most unseemly manner. The results, one can safely conclude, painted a rather ugly picture of our democracy. There are differences of opinion, and the whole fiasco is disputable as to what transpired after the police had to come to the assistance of the Sergeant -of -Arms.

I am not judgemental here, but I would rather hold the view that the apparent planned disorder by the Opposition could have resulted in their forceful removal from the honourable House of Assembly. Whatever else happened on that day , who is to be blamed? Nobody but themselves.

Equalizer