The Tribune

By DANA SMITH

dsmith@tribunemedia.net

FORMER Cabinet Minister Kenneth Russell branded the FNM's abrupt final suspension of the House of Assembly, which prevented many retiring MPs from making their final address, a "shocking" and "nasty" move.

The High Rock MP, who was asked to resign from the Cabinet last year, said the decision to suspend parliament until the day before it must be dissolved ahead of the election, showed disrespect to leaving MPs and a reluctance to let some of them speak their mind.

On Wednesday, after announcing that he didn't "want any arguing," Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham suspended the House until May 22 and said he plans to dissolve the House on or before May 2.

This move shocked opposition members, including PLP leader Perry Christie who called it "dictatorial".

St Cecilia MP Cynthia "Mother" Pratt was visibly affected as she sat solemnly on the front steps of the House.

Retiring after 15 years as an MP, she said she had planned to thank her constituents and give a last farewell.

"I thought it was a nasty thing that he did," Mr Russell said. "I thought he should have let persons speak their mind and get up and thank their constituents and their supporters and thank who assisted them over the past years. When you stay for 15 years, there are many persons who are a part of that service."

Mr Russell said during his entire time in parliament, MPs intending to leave were always given the opportunity to address the country.

He said: "But you know, normally a government acts like that when a government anticipates certain things are going to be said and they don't want it to be said - they don't want the public to hear certain things.

"So I understand why the prime minister did it, but I'm very concerned that he did because it shows that there's no respect for those persons who are leaving Parliament."

When asked what sort of things he thought retiring MPs might have said, Mr Russell insisted: "I don't think anyone would have gotten up and done any attacking on the government because this is your last chance to say thank you and good-bye.

"I think everybody would have done that in order, in decency so that they could be remembered leaving the House with a smile and on a good note."

He explained that he personally didn't prepare a speech because he wasn't expecting the final suspension so soon.

If given the chance, Mr Russell said, "I would have loved to say to my colleagues that I have enjoyed working with them, that I had a good time working with them, that I thought we did a good job together, and no matter how things ended I still see them as my friends."

He said he will "find a way" to speak to his constituents, possibly through town meetings, to thank them for their support.

"And maybe I'll see them next election," he added.

Of 11 MPs who did not get to say farewell, 7 are FNM representatives.