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PAM leader Lindsay Grant disrespects National Assembly, Speaker threatens to throw him out
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| (left to right) - PAM Leader, Mr. Lindsay Grant, Mr. Slieh Boncamper and Mr. Chesley Hamilton |
| By: Erasmus Williams, CUOPM |
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BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, OCTOBER 20TH 2009 (CUOPM) – Speaker of the St. Kitts and Nevis National Assembly, the Hon. Curtis Martin said Tuesday he will not allow the lawmaking body to be used as a political platform.
The Speaker made the statement after the Political Leader of the opposition People’s Action Movement, Mr. Lindsay Grant, the Party’s National Spokesman, Mr. Chesley Hamilton and another party member, Mr. Slieh Boncamper, who were in the Visitor’s Gallery, disrespected the lawmaking body while Prime Minister the Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas was making a statement.
He also cited the People’s Action Movement (PAM) Parliamentary Representative for St. Christopher 5, the Hon. Shawn Richards for disrepectfully and unparliamentary disrupting Prime Minister Douglas.
Although he did not single out, who did it, the Speaker said he observed the waving of white handkerchiefs from the gallery. Grant, Hamilton and Boncamper were the only visitors in the gallery besides a reporter.
The Speaker said he observed the waving of white handkerchiefs and cross talking.
“I will not allow this Honourable House to be used as political place. If you are a visitor to this House - and I said at the start of my taking up this seat, that I will walk away with my integrity (and) I intend to keep the decorum of this House. If you are a visitor, please act as a visitor, full stop or I will ask you to leave,” said the Speaker.
“You know who you are and there is no need to make any comment,” said the Speaker, who noted the tense political environment and called on Mr. Grant and his party colleagues to “act as statesmen.”
Directing his attention to Mr. Richards, who disrupted Prime Minister Douglas while he was making the statement, the Speaker told the lone elected PAM Representative, there was no call for him to shout out loser.
“You lose, you lose,” shouted Mr. Richards across the floor.
Some persons in the press box said they observed the PAM officials in the gallery communicating with Mr. Richards.
“Honourable Member for St. Christopher 5, please allow the Honourable Member for St. Christopher 6 to make his presentation. This cross talking is not necessary. There was no need for you to be telling him that he lose as he is making his presentation. You will get your chance to speak,” said the Hon. Speaker.
“I am the boss in here and what I say goes. I am not tolerating any nonsense from politicians,” said the Speaker. Mr. Grant, an unelected Member of the National Assembly, is not a regular visitor to the National Assembly.
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