Madam Speaker, On a Point of Order…

Opposition Leader Shyne Barrow was late in arriving at today’s sitting of the House of Representatives, but when he did walk in, there was no shortage of banter across the aisle. He entered during the Orange Walk South area representative’s presentation and quickly called for a point of order on the grounds that Jose Abelardo Mai was painstakingly discussing the misdeeds of the previous administration instead of focusing on the financial proposal for the upcoming fiscal year. Here’s how that brief exchange with the Speaker of the House unfolded.

Moses “Shyne” Barrow, Leader of the Opposition

“On a point of order.”

Moses “Shyne” Barrow

House Speaker

“What’s the point of order?”

Shyne Barrow

“Madam Speaker, I pray that we can focus…”

House Speaker

“What’s the point of order?”

Shyne Barrow

“The point of order is that members have to debate the budget, Madam Speaker. All I am hearing is about the former administration. I am hearing nothing about the budget, Madam Speaker. I just want you to understand me, Madam Speaker, the people want to hear about the budget.”

House Speaker

“Please sit. Member, you were late, and for that I will… member, I am talking, we spoke about this yesterday. I was about to say to you, please member, you were late so I will excuse you for perhaps… if you would allow me to finish, it is not a criticism of you being late. It’s me trying to explain to you that I made an announcement this morning and perhaps you may have missed it because you were late, it’s not a criticism of being late.  And the point that I made, and I will repeat it, is that this parliament and previous parliaments, especially for budget debates, speakers have allowed that leeway of looking in the past, looking at previous budgets and then tie it in with the current budget that is being debated and I reminded all members to just be aware that you must tie into the new budget. It is not about debating the past.”