BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – SPEAKER of the National Assembly the Hon. Curtis Martin, when contacted by SKNVibes on allegations made by three Members of the Opposition in the Federal Parliament, declared that he would not be speaking to the media on any issue.
Following a somewhat eventful Parliamentary session yesterday (July 8) – which saw the Opposition staging a walk-out in protest against the Speaker’s ruling against the placing of the Motion of No Confidence on the Order Paper – SKNVibes spoke with a number of Opposition Members who were obviously annoyed with the conduct of the Speaker of the House.
The Hon. Sam Condor – Parliamentary Representative for St. Christopher Three – suggested that the Speaker was “out of order” for not allowing the Motion to be tabled and suggested that he (the Speaker) might not understand the way Parliament should be conducted.
During yesterday’s session there was an exchange of words between Parliamentary Representative for St. Christopher Eight the Hon. Eugene Hamilton and the Speaker. And, at one point, the latter referred to the former as being disrespectful and as having no manners.
This did not sit well with Hamilton and he proceeded to express that such language was improper, but the Speaker maintained that such language was used as a response to his actions and his utterances.
And speaking with SKNVibes on the outskirts of Government Headquarters, Hamilton told SKNVibes that the Speaker’s behaviour and his words were “unparliamentary”.
Accusations were again levelled at the Speaker by Parliamentary Representative for St. Christopher Five the Hon. Shawn Richards, who declared to this publication that the Speaker is not in control of the National Assembly.
“It is quite clear the Speaker is not in control of the National Assembly, but he is being directed by Dr. Denzil Douglas and carrying out Denzil Douglas’ agenda.”
Earlier today (Jul. 9), SKNVibes made contact with Speaker Martin. And soon after this reporter identified herself and asked if he had time to address a number of issues, the Hon. Speaker indicated that he would not be speaking with any media personnel.
“I’m not speaking to any media person. I have no comment on anything.”
He also expressed that whatever he said in Parliament is all that he would say on any matter.
