The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

FORT Charlotte MP Dr Andre Rollins was suspended from last night’s House of Assembly session after refusing to adhere to warnings from Speaker Dr Kendal Major during the House debate on a bill to establish the University of The Bahamas.

The point of contention came shortly after 7pm as Minister of Education Jerome Fitzgerald was wrapping up debate on the legislation and Dr Rollins stood on a point of order but was denied the chance to speak.

Dr Rollins was told he had no grounds to make a point of order however he did not relent, prompting Dr Major to tell the Free National Movement MP that he was obstructing House proceedings and needed to take his seat.

“You are obstructing the rules,” Dr Major said while Dr Rollins shouted in protest. “Member this is the second warning. Take your seat. Take your seat.”

Still standing, Dr Rollins then accused Dr Major of being “most unfair”.

“You are not even asking me what my point of order is,” he shouted.

“You would not even allow me to explain myself.”

This forced Dr Major to stand in an effort to gain control of the House of Assembly.

Dr Major then moved for the bill to be voted on however Dr Rollins continued to argue while seated and “glared” at the chair, resulting in his suspension for the remainder of the session.

Dr Major called for the sergeant-at-arms to escort the outspoken MP out of Parliament, telling Dr Rollins he had been suspended for the rest of the sitting for “disrupting this House.”

Four officers later escorted Dr Rollins outside, with Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn following. Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner later asked Dr Major why Dr Rollins was not allowed to speak, however he said he did not want to go into the matter.

FNM Leader Dr Hubert Minnis was not present, as he had left the session during the morning debate due to illness.

After the session, Dr Major told reporters that he thought Dr Rollins “went beyond the pale,” calling the MP “very obstinate and very difficult.”

“The member refused to obey the orders of the chair,” said Dr Major outside of the House of Assembly last night.

“… I warned the member several times and the member eventually literally glared at the chair and screamed in a very loud and very threatening voice and I thought that it was time that we end this.”

Dr Major said he made a decision he thought best in the interest of the dignity of the House.

“(I) asked the member to remove himself for the rest of the session,” he added.

“In the wrap up, typically you just allow the member to finish the wrap up and you move on. But (Dr Rollins) was very contentious and felt that he had to rebut. Usually what I have found is (that) this particular member at times, when you allow an inch they take a mile.

“And the member was screaming and becoming angered and I thought it appropriate to not allow the member to speak and sully what I thought to be a very good debate,” he added.

However, Mrs Butler-Turner spoke out in defense of her colleague, speculating that Dr Major’s decision may have resulted from past run-ins with Dr Rollins.

Mrs Butler-Turner told The Tribune there was a “misjudgment” of the exchange from the standpoint of the speaker, suggesting that several other members stood on a point of order prior to Dr Rollins, including herself, and all were allowed to address the House.

“I, just a few moments before stood on a point of order and it was accepted, she said. “… So I don’t think it could have been that you couldn’t stand on a point of order at that time. So I think the discretionary factor brings into to question the veracity of why the member for Fort Charlotte was denied.”

The Long Island MP further suggested that disparaging remarks were levelled at Dr Rollins by members of the governing side during the exchange, claiming that those remarks “exacerbated” the situation.

According to Mrs Butler-Turner, the remarks were so vile that she couldn’t bring herself to repeat them.

She urged Dr Major to revisit his decision to suspend the member for Fort Charlotte.

The House will reconvene on August 3.