U.D.P. condemns Speaker’s actions; wants apology
Today in the House of Representatives, the Opposition officially protested the way the Speaker ended the last meeting, but what resulted was an extended period of objections to the way the members of the House, on both sides, were conducting today’s meeting.
Janelle Chanona, Reporting
The hot topic of today’s sitting of the House of Representatives was supposed to be the repurchase of Belize Water Services Limited, but much of the morning’s session was spent debating the events of the last regular sitting, which had an abrupt adjournment.
Today, the Opposition formally put forward a motion calling for condemnation of Zabaneh’s actions and an apology to Mesopotamia Rep. Michael Finnegan and a promise that the Speaker would not do anything like it again.
Dean Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“The idea this morning is not to embarrass the Speaker. I think we just want to put on record our insistence on the right of this side of the House to be treated fairly in accordance with the notions of democracy and in accordance with the principles that are enshrined in the Standing Orders.”
Elizabeth Zabaneh, Speaker of the House
“Since I, as Speaker, am the object of the Honourable member’s charge, I feel that the prudent thing to do is to recuse myself from this part of the House proceedings.”
With Valdemar Castillo sitting as Speaker, the House would spend the next hour discussing proper parliamentary behaviour. But as highlights show, the debate was more of the same.
Godfrey Smith, Area Rep., Pickstock
“The Honourable Member for Mesop imputed improper motives to the Prime Minister, a clear breach of Section 38(5).”
Dean Barrow
“We are not here debating the conduct of the member for Mesopotamia; that would itself have to be the subject of a privileges motion.”
Godfrey Smith
“It is the Honourable gentleman from the Queen Square division that has brought the motion before this House, we didn’t ask for him to bring this motion. He has accused or laid allegations?Ah man, I neva interrupt you. You see this dah the thing.”
Valdemar Castillo, Acting Speaker of the House
“Order, order.”
Godfrey Smith
“This is the kind of disorder that we are talking about. He is interrupting my intervention.”
Valdemar Castillo
“Let’s have order.”
Dean Barrow
“The member moving the motion can’t speak for more than fifteen minutes. Since my friend is talking about the spirit of the standing orders, I believe that he will agree that he should not exceed fifteen minutes. I have been checking and he is very much?could I, could I…that’s why there are rules. He’s very close to that fifteen minutes.”
Anthony “Boots” Martinez, Area Rep., Port Loyola
“This adjournment is clear, the definition in here is clear. Only?”
Godfrey Smith
“Point of Order Mr. Speaker, Point of order.”
Valdemar Castillo
“What’s your point of Order?”
Valdemar Castillo
“Point of Order is that having taken my seat and watched the member from Port Loyola rise, I carefully timed him and he has now crossed the threshold of fifteen minutes.”
Francis Fonseca, Area Rep., Freetown
“I certainly join with him in his call for a return to a respectful, dignified environment in the House, which I think serves all our interests.”
Michael Finnegan, Area Rep., Mesopotamia
“In my honest and sincere view, I believe that we need to vote here in this House in order to have somebody new sit in that chair. I believe we need somebody that is neutral. I believe that the Speaker interferes in our presentations. The Speaker is too P.U.P. and too partisan and we need a change at the head of the chair.”
Patrick Faber
“If she was serious about democracy, if her instructors on the other side were serious, because it seems they give her instructions from time to time.”
Johnny Briceño, Area Rep., O.W. Central
“Please, on a point of order. First of all he is implying improper motive against the Speaker and I think he needs to withdraw that. Please sit down I’m talking. Thank you very much. I think he needs he needs to withdraw that Mr. Speaker. I think that’s very serious. Please sit down I’m not finished yet. Please.”
Valdemar Castillo
“Go head with the?”
Johnny Briceño
“Can you sit down? Please sit down.”
Patrick Faber
“What’s the point of order and what standing order are you?”
Valdemar Castillo
“Please sit down.”
Johnny Briceño
“And secondly, Mr. Speaker, his fifteen minutes are up. Thank you.”
Valdemar Castillo
“Try to kind of wind up.”
Patrick Faber
“Mr. Speaker when the member stands up on a point of order, he needs to give the standing order. This is the kind of thing I’m talking about.”
Johnny Briceño
“Mr. Speaker the point of order is 38(5) and I still have not heard him apologising or withdrawing that comment against the Speaker.”
Patrick Faber
“Mr. Speaker.”
Johnny Briceño
“It is because?could you kindly sit down. Could you sit down!”
Patrick Faber
“Mr. Speaker, Mr. Speaker. What I have said.”
Valdemar Castillo
“Both of you sit down right now. Honourable member I think you have passed the time now, so please wind up.”
Patrick Faber
“Mr. Speaker, just let me just wrap up by saying?”
Johnny Briceño
“You point of order sir. Please, Mr. Speaker, point 37(8) the improper motives that he has said against the Speaker of the House?”
Patrick Faber
“Let me deal with it, let me deal with it. Are you giving me a break?”
Johnny Briceño
“I am requesting that he withdraws those comments.”
Patrick Faber
“The Speaker is standing sit down!”
Sylvia Flores, Area Rep., Dangriga
“I think the nation is listening to the House this morning and must wonder what it is that is really important in the life of this nation. Will we sit here for another hour debating this matter? I think we need to move on. Put it to a vote and let us move on and deal with the substantive issues of this House. Thank you very much”
Dean Barrow
“Withdrawing the motion would not be the right thing to do, let it proceed so that the exercise can be concluded and so that we can have closure, but as a compromise may I say that we will not ask for a division.”
Zabaneh would return to chair the rest of the day’s sitting.
