Claims Hamilton behaved as if he were a child
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – SPEAKER of the National Assembly, Hon. Curtis Martin chided Parliamentary Representative of Constituency Eight, Hon. Eugene Hamilton for past statements made to the media and likened his behaviour to that of a child.
“In my view, I believe you have behaved as if you are a child who approaches his mom or dad for a lollipop. The mom or dad says, ‘Hold on, I am doing something.’ And you resort to some sort of rudeness."
Martin directed this statement to Hamilton during the sitting of the National Assembly on Friday (Dec. 3) while criticising members of the Opposition who had walked out of the House during Senator Richard Skerritt’s presentation on Thursday, November 25.
Hamilton, Senator Vincent Byron Jr., Hon. Shawn Richards and the Hon. Vance Amory had walked out of the House in protest of Skerritt’s accusation, in which he claimed that members of the Opposition had used the November 14 robbery of 17 tourists in the vicinity of Brimstone Hill as a means to undermine the government.
Martin said after the walkout, the members returned to the House but did not voice their concern, even though they were given the opportunity to do so. He noted that Amory and Hamilton had visited his office and the latter told him he did not want to be viewed as being antagonistic towards the Speaker of the House.
“The story does not end there, because sometime after the adjournment of Parliament the Member for Number Eight and Member for Nevis Ten knocked on the Speaker’s office door and requested a meeting with him. At that time I was also told that the Member for Number Five would be present as well, but he never showed.
“The essence for Number Eight concern was basically to say that he does not want to come across as though he has antagonistic issues with the Speaker. Little did I know that he and his team had already painted the Speaker in a bad light through the local media earlier in the day. And the story was later published. Not knowing all of this, I gave both Opposition Members present my assurance that I would ensure that there is balance as I have been doing all along in this Honourable House.”
Martin voiced his annoyance with the statements made by Hamilton to the local media, which suggested that the Speaker is not balanced and fair in the execution of his duties in the House of Assembly.
“That was the end of it. Was it? No. Another news source, on a different day, stated the Honourable member for St. Christopher Eight said, and I quote, ‘He also believes that the manner in which the Speaker of the House conducts the National Assembly meeting suggests that he has been briefed on a number of things pertaining to what is being debated.
“Member for Number Eight, let me be absolutely clear to you and every other member on the opposition benches and the government benches, that this Chair will not parade in front of the media to gain any political mileage or make any reckless statements in a disrespectful manner you have done.
“The very same thing the member for Number Eight is claiming about the Senator making accusations or imputing motive about the Opposition, is the very same thing he is doing to the media.”
Earlier in his admonition of the Opposition Members, Martin said that the statements they gave to the media concerning Skerritt’s presentation were without substance.
He cautioned Hamilton to cease and desist making false accusation about him, “because every time you do it or any member in here, I will deal with the matter accordingly”.
Martin also noted that he had given Hamilton ample opportunity to say what his concerns were, but he refused, adding, “I would like to make this absolutely clear, that none of you will make the Chair doubt its purpose.”
