Speaker to Blame

THE EDITOR: It is clear that what transpired in the House on Tuesday morning was the fault of the Speaker. He seems to enjoy the antics of the Opposition. Then, when he sees that they are really not taking him on and are not about to stop, but only getting louder, he tries to assume an air of seriousness. But it’s too late. Things have already got way out of hand.

And so he harps on the one misplaced comment from Honourable Guy Joseph and demands that he withdraws it. He then adds Ernest Hilaire to the list also, almost as an afterthought. Again, he erred badly. Since Ernest Hilaire made his offending comment before Guy Joseph made his, the Speaker should have ensured that Hilaire withdrew his comment first, as it is his comment and the comments of the other opposition members which gave rise to Guy Joseph’s infuriated comment. But he didn’t. I submit that Guy Joseph would have had no problem withdrawing his comment if Daniel had proceeded in the correct order to ask Hilaire to withdraw his first.

Further, the Speaker made a totally unbelievable remark when he kept pleading with opposition members to give up their loud noise. He kept repeating that the new audio is in operation and it is more sensitive than the old one and so it is picking up all the side comments, not like the old machines which did not pick up the background words. He actually checked with a court officer to verify that. Therefore, isn’t he saying that it’s not about the fact that the members of the House were making comments which they shouldn’t have made, but only that they were making comments which could be heard over the sound system?

A lousy job all round from the Speaker. He should take some notes from the new President of the Senate. If he can’t manage, then he should leave the job.

Oh, for the days of the Honourable Wilfred St Clair Daniel.

Patriot