Castries Youth Group Blasts ‘Hot Mess’ In Parliament

THE South Castries Youth and Sports Council has criticised the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Andy Daniel, following Tuesday’s session of parliament.

Council President, Robert Rene, declaring that his organisation is objective and not affiliated to either the opposition Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) or the ruling United Workers Party (UWP), accused the Speaker of losing control of the house.

“I was trying to listen intently to what the Prime Minister of the country was saying, but his speech was always deterred by comments from the floor and then of course, the members of the United Workers Party were rebutting at the same time,” Rene told reporters Wednesday.

“It was just a hot mess,” he declared.

Rene asserted that the people of Castries South and Saint Lucia deserve way better than that when ministers of government are sitting in the house of assembly.

“I would like the Speaker of the House to understand – and I do not claim to be a pundit on parliamentary procedure – but I would appreciate it if the ministers of government would allow persons on either side to make their contributions, so that we who are listening can gain a better understanding of what is happening.”

According to the youth organisation president, it almost seemed as though the Speaker of the House only became very stern when he was told that everything that was being said in the house was being recorded.

Daniel called on MPs to stop the ‘cross talk’ and called on the MP for Castries South, ErnestHilaire and Economic Development Minister, Guy Joseph, to withdraw statements they had made.

Hilaire complied.

But Joseph asked Daniel what statement he was referring to.

Daniel responded by telling Joseph:

“You do not want me to repeat it.”

He then urged Joseph, who is the MP for Castries South East, to stand and withdraw the statement.

When Joseph declared that he would not comply, the Speaker said the MP would have to leave the house.

“I am not withdrawing the statement. I am sitting there, I am talking – you’re telling me about withdrawing statement,” Joseph stated as he rose from his seat and departed.

The President of the Castries South Youth Group said when what took place Tuesday was reviewed, both Joseph and Hilaire were asked to withdraw statements.

Rene said both MPs need to understand that they are representing the people of their constituencies and the young people of South Castries believe that they should behave in a manner that makes the people proud.

“Saying these off the cuff statements, to the point where a minister has to be asked to leave the house, for me is distasteful,” he asserted.

The president of the youth group explained that he reviewed the recording of the entire parliamentary session.

” It appeared to me that Minister Guy Joseph made a statement and that statement was, the time stamp is 41 minutes: He said, and I quote : ‘You have a vested interest in the arms coming in the country,’” Rene told reporters.

He noted that Hilaire later asked Joseph to withdraw the statement.

“It appeared to me that the statement was very suggestive,” Rene said, adding that too many delinquent young people in Saint Lucia are armed with weapons.

He called on Joseph to clarify and substantiate his statement since the South Castries Youth and Sports Council would not want a representative who has a vested interest in arms, which can be pushed into communities and destroy the lives of young people.

“The fact is that everyone can make statements that they believe to be true and if they have facts to substantiate their statements, they will not recant.”