Shyne Explains Spiritless Apology to House Speaker

Shyne Barrow

Opposition Leader Shyne Barrow has written to the Speaker of the House of Representatives in respect of the unwelcome remarks made in an email that was sent to her back in August.  As we reported, the comments that were made in response to Valerie Woods’ last-minute decision to inform Barrow that his request for a no-confidence motion would not be carried, did not go over well with fellow parliamentarians.  On Friday, Barrow was given a deadline of eighteen days during which he was expected to apologize to the speaker.  But his letter to the presiding officer of the House of Representatives, despite starting off with the words “I apologize”, did not speak to what was said.  Instead, Barrow expressed regret for how Woods felt about the comments.  Today, when we caught up with him, he explained that there’s more to be done in parliament than hanging up on what has been said.

Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

“I believe the other contents of the letter are more important where it is that I genuinely seek a reset with the speaker, on behalf of the opposition, on behalf of my office, as the prime minister in waiting, the government in waiting.  We have serious work to do in the House of Representatives and I do believe things have gotten to a low, an extreme low where members in the house, I was threatened by a member in the house.  I was told to come outside.  Members in the house use all types of abusive and offensive, insulting behavior and it’s pathological and, you know, there’s even been times where the speaker laughed or didn’t do anything.  What happens is, as I said in my letter, when you create this level of mistrust and confidence is eroded then things descend into disorder and chaos, because if we don’t feel respected, if we don’t feel revered and that we were given the opportunity to do what we were elected to do by the people of this country, then frustration sets in and things descend to lows that we don’t want them to be.  So I genuinely don’t want to continue in this fashion, I hope that the speaker has heard the valid complaints made not just by myself, but other members of the opposition and that she will seek to do her best to be balanced and equitable in her discharge.”