The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

DEPUTY Speaker of the House of Assembly Dion Smith and Dr Andre Rollins clashed yesterday in Parliament after the Fort Charlotte MP shouted comments regarding former FNM Chairman and Senator Michael Pintard shortly after he resigned yesterday.

The outburst from Dr Rollins, which caused the Deputy Speaker to get to his feet and bang his desk in an attempt to bar the comments, was one of many heated moments during the morning session as he repeatedly butted heads with other Progressive Liberal Party members.

Mr Smith, after having to scream and yell to gain order in the House as MPs on both sides were standing, ultimately expunged Dr Rollins’ comments from the record.

Dr Rollins stood on what he called “a very important point of order”, which came as several heated exchanges took place during Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn’s contribution to the mid-year budget debate.

At one point, several uniformed and plain-clothed police officers stood in the centre aisle of the lower chamber seemingly waiting to be given the go-ahead to forcibly remove the MP.

“Member, take your seat,” Mr Smith shouted, while ordering that Dr Rollins’ microphone be shut off. “I am standing, take your seat. Member, take your seat or you will be removed. Take your seat.

“Member this is your last warning. I am just ruling that you have just disobeyed all the orders of this House and you are being disorderly. If you are continuing to do that … when I stand, take your seat,” Mr Smith, on his feet, shouted as Dr Rollins continued to speak.

“If you continue to do that you will be removed from this House immediately. You have been warned. That (Dr Rollins’ comments) does not come before this House. Not now. Do it the right way. All that the member has said is to be expunged from the record.”

The Deputy Speaker continued: “You have been warned and I am warning all members. Member for Montagu, take your seat. I am warning all members on both sides to conduct themselves in an orderly manner. If you don’t I will use the rules of this House and I will put you out.”

However Dr Rollins took his seat before the Deputy Speaker went further.

Mr Smith’s admonishment was not sufficient for West Grand Bahama and Bimini MP Obie Wilchcombe, who questioned at what point was the Deputy Speaker was going to stop giving warnings.

He said: “At what point are we going to stop warning Mr Speaker and at what point are we going to understand that this is a House and not a play house and at what point are we going to account the member for Fort Charlotte that he has to behave in this place because he has gone overboard.

“We have extended the time and every moment he wants to speak. This is verbal masturbation,” Mr Wilchcombe said. “We have to get the member to understand that this is a serious place. Making all these allegations about people must stop.”

Speaker of the House Dr Kendal Major was not present in the House yesterday.