U.D.P. calls Speaker “outrageously wrong”

The Opposition United Democratic Party has written to the Speaker of the House of Representatives protesting her actions at Friday’s sitting. The letter, signed by Party Leader Dean Barrow, accuses Speaker Elizabeth Zabaneh of being overtly biased in favour of the ruling People’s United Party and called upon her to give an undertaking that she would never again prematurely terminate a meeting, nor stifle the Opposition’s right to speak on adjournment. Calling the Speaker “outrageously wrong,” Barrow’s letter claimed that the Speaker had no power under the standing orders to require an Opposition member to hand over his personal papers to the government side. He also asserted that she could not adjourn the House before six p.m. without the question being properly put, except in the case of grave disorder in the House.

In a press release accompanying the letter, the U.D.P. says that its Central Executive has decided on a four-step plan of action, the letter being step one. If the Speaker’s response is not satisfactory, they will continue with the other measures, which will be revealed at an appropriate time.

For her part, when contacted by News Five this afternoon at her home in Independence Village, Zabaneh said that she had not yet received the letter, which was addressed to her office in Belmopan. Although we immediately faxed her a copy and asked for a reaction, the Speaker said that she would have no reply… at least not today.