BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – DESPITE chastising the Members of Parliament yesterday (Dec. 7) on their deplorable and disrespectful behaviour, Speaker of the National Assembly the Hon. Michael Perkins returned to the House this morning to face more of the same.
At the close of the presentation of the 2017 Budget, Speaker Perkins said he had been approached by individuals about the unacceptable decorum of Members of the House and his seemingly extensive patience with such practices.
Admitting that the Federal Parliament is being observed and scrutinised by the wider public, Speaker Perkins informed that he had observed “a level of conduct emanating from some members which is totally unbecoming of good Parliamentary practice and procedure”.
The Chair advised that he would no longer tolerate such practices.
“I want to advise and announce at this point that I am of the view that this particular sitting and session of Parliament that we have reached a turning point. We have reached a turning into the extent that I, as the Chair, would not be tolerating too much more of what has obtained in the Parliament.
“I will not tolerate any level or further level of disrespect to the Chair. It is totally and completely out of order for any Member to show dissent, criticism or have any kind of difficulty with the decisions of the Chair. That is totally unparliamentarily, it’s totally disrespectful and so I would not be tolerating anymore of that.”
The Hon. Perkins mentioned no names while making his statements, but he however recalled a couple of incidents of disrespect which he said had taken him by surprise.
“I have seen, I have heard some of the most disrespectful utterances coming from Members of this Parliament. I could recall at one point a Member actually said: ‘You aine know wah u doing!’ I heard him but he deflected and indicated he was not speaking to me. In the future I would be the sole judge as to whether or not any such statement is directed to me and I will deal with that accordingly.
“I have heard a Member actually shouting down the Speaker asking to give an order: ‘What’s your ruling? What’s your ruling?’ I must admit it is only after I studied the video tape of that particular sitting I really got an appreciation of the manner and the disrespect that was shown in that particular instance, because the Member said, not less than five or six times, ‘What is your ruling?’ in a very vociferous and angry manner. That was totally and completely out of order.
“I’ve heard and seen even facial expressions showing dissent to rulings of the Chair, and I’m saying to you Honourable Members that this is it.”
Speaker Perkins informed the August Body that such behaviour would no longer be tolerated and that appropriate action would be taken if it persists.
“Going forward, from tomorrow when we resume, this Chair would not be tolerating too much more of such or anymore of such.
“Under the rules of the House, it is for the Chair, it is for the Speaker to determine when a conduct of a Member is considered to be grossly disorderly. That’s the sole discretion of the Speaker. And, in fact, anytime I am of the view that any conduct from any Member reaches that point, I will so determine and I would apply the relevant sections or section of the House which deal with such a situation. And for the benefit of the general public, on the first instance the Speaker has the right to ask the Member to leave Parliament for the rest of the day. Thereafter, any further infringement, additional rules and penalties may apply.
“There are certain things we tolerate and there are certain things we just can’t tolerate. If is one rule that will be observed in this House, is that when the Speaker rises to his feet or when I’m speaking I expect silence from each and every Member in this House.”
The Chair advised that if a Member has difficulty with any of his rulings, he or she has the right to take particular recourse as outlined in the Standing Rules and Orders.
“Any Member who has any difficulty of any ruling of the Speaker, it would only be viewed or reviewed through a notice. I hope that what I’ve said is loud and clear and I end where I said a while ago, this is a turning point in this Parliament as far as I’m concerned and we will see how things go when we resume tomorrow.”
The House convened this morning and as it progressed there were, according to members of the public, several instances where the Speaker appeared to have continued to tolerate disrespectful behaviour.
