By KHRISNA RUSSELL
Deputy Chief Reporter
krussell@tribunemedia.net
ENGLERSTON MP Glenys Hanna Martin was named by House Speaker Halson Moultrie and suspended from further parliamentary sessions after walking out of the House as the speaker gave remarks regarding her behavior during proceedings.
It came after an at times firey exchange between the MP and the speaker.
The explosive scene at the House was sparked during discourse over comments she made last week regarding the firing of two airport officials, which were ultimately stricken from the record.
She had initially stood in the House to set the record straight on comments made at that time.
Following a nearly 45 minute back and forth between the MP and the speaker, he remarked that during his investigations it was found that she repeatedly breached the House rules.
The words did not sit well with Mrs Hanna Martin who insisted that not only was she taken aback and ambushed, but she suggested she had been deceived by the speaker who did not disclose he had reviewed tapes of previous sessions.
She was backed by Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador MP Philip ‘Brave’ Davis who argued the Englerston MP was being treated unfairly.
In reply, the speaker told the Opposition that if they did not agree with the rules of the House, then they could decide to withdraw from it.
However, before he could complete his remarks, Mrs Hanna Martin gathered her belongings and left the lower chamber.
It was then that the speaker named her and ordered she be suspended until the speaker made a determination on the length of the suspension.
Mr Davis and Exuma and Ragged Island MP Chester Cooper followed as she exited.
Comments
TheMadHatter 6 years, 10 months ago
It is an injustice that the Speaker would not set the time of her suspension at the moment that he made it. An MP should not be able to be suspended sine die.
Hopefully Davis and Cooper will NOT return to the House until the Speaker states the date that MP Martin can return - and that this date is spoken by him while the House is seated. They can watch the newspapers or TV to read/hear his utterance.
Otherwise, we have no democracy and there is no point attending the House.
I am not a PLP. I do not like them at all. But democracy is democracy and they deserve that much respect. Hanna-Martin has shown time and again that she will stand up for the Bahamian people by putting herself at risk. The last time I recall was when the boy was found hanging by his own belt in the Grove police station. She was suspended then as well. She is a true hero of the people, and I believe had she been present and had not Pindling thrown the mace out, she would have done it. The PLP has made a GRAVE mistake by not electing her as Chairman at their recent convention.
sealice 6 years, 10 months ago
the lady must be a dinosaur if she was an active politician when ping was alive....
bahamian242 6 years, 10 months ago
So no PLP's in the HOA today!!
TheMadHatter 6 years, 10 months ago
Remember Andros.
Islangal1 6 years, 10 months ago
LOL! LOL!
sealice 6 years, 10 months ago
AAWWW the PLP's still need special treatment..... or their feelings get hurt and they bail.... what is this grade school? When they were on the other end of the stick they didn't seem to mind...
TheMadHatter 6 years, 10 months ago
Remember Pindling threw the mace out of the House achieving Independence. Rules of men do not come from God. Right is right. If you have a situation where a peoples' representative can be suspended forever (ie. without a date) then that person is actually not a peoples' representative. They can only be a well behaved negro. Any "uppity" negros will be "suspended". With that you do not have self rule. Wake up. I am not at all a supporter of the PLP, but the 4 that are there represent certain people in this country and they MUST be allowed to represent them - otherwise you are saying that Minnis is a king. If you want a king, then tear up the flag and the Constitution and call Elisabeth and beg forgiveness.
Gotoutintime 6 years, 10 months ago
Elizabeth don't want no part of us!!
hrysippus 6 years, 10 months ago
Mace throwing achieved independence? Really, just like that, no assent by the foreign office, no delegation to London? I guess tis folly to be wise.
tetelestai 6 years, 10 months ago
hrysippus don't be obtuse. You know very well the point of TheMadHatter's soliloquy.
sealice 6 years, 10 months ago
whether there's 1 person in the HOA or it's full we still don't come close to a true democracy.... purportedly better then other places but we still a weak weak democratic shitholio....and her people made the rules yet she needs to break them? What part of you broke the rules you get punished is not FRUCKIN CLEAR HERE???
DEDDIE 6 years, 10 months ago
Hanna Martin like her father before her knows how to fight.
licks2 6 years, 10 months ago
Hehehehehehehehehe. . .any of yinna heard the rant she had in the house? The speaker asked her what is her point of privileged she stood on. . . she started "spurting" then went into a tirade about "you targeting me. . .why you targeting me. . .what I do". . .please state your point of privilege you stood on! She went on about being targeted and did not state her POP. . .
tetelestai 6 years, 10 months ago
That is not how I viewed it. And, unlike you, I was actually there. Please state facts instead of trying to be "cheeky" on a comment site.
TalRussell 6 years, 10 months ago
Ma Comrades, does this mean the Imperial red shirt Speaker, does want brungs an end to the Lok Sabha.... cause if so, we might as well have just left Pindling's tossing Mace out window - lying on the square's pavement, all battered.
Amen!
PastorTroy 6 years, 10 months ago
TheMadHatter: says, If you want a king, then tear up the flag and the Constitution and call Elisabeth and beg forgiveness.
dajohhnycanoe 6 years, 10 months ago
You must respect the House Rules
hnhanna 6 years, 10 months ago
A year ago the PLP was big and mighty , now the tide turn on them like a big wave, LMAO
TheMadHatter 6 years, 10 months ago
Yes, and the same will happen to the FNM again in 4 years, unless they have the courage to amend the House rules to be more democratic.
sheeprunner12 6 years, 10 months ago
This half breed dumbass needs to keep walking ......... she has added nothing to Parliament ....... and she is too obnoxious to really get any sympathy from Joe Public ...... She pretends that she has gravitas like Mother Pratt or Dame Doris, when she was a bungling Minister and a lousy MP.
Well_mudda_take_sic 6 years, 10 months ago
Spot on!
DillyTree 6 years, 10 months ago
Good riddance!
Why do our MPs, who work for us, think they can behave like unruly grade school children? If you can't abide by the House rules, then maybe you should step down or reconsider if politics are for you. So sick of the bad behaviour (both parties) when they should be conducting business on behalf of the Bahamian people.
Try behaving like that at a regular company job!
ThisIsOurs 6 years, 10 months ago
It just seems like they appoint the least stellar people to this position as if it just requires sitting in a chair with a wig on send banging a hammer. They then start ruling with their "I'm the speaker" emotions as opposed to due process.
MassExodus 6 years, 10 months ago
CYC
Sickened 6 years, 10 months ago
What's the last 'C' stand for? LOL!
hrysippus 6 years, 10 months ago
That's funny, waut is that the correct word, I'm so used to rhyming now......
CatIslandBoy 6 years, 10 months ago
Good riddance! I hope she stays gone. Her presence in the HOA offers nothing of any consequence. Based upon the rude behaviour, and lack of respect for the Speaker, exhibited in the House, she should be suspended for a very long time.
seamphony 6 years, 10 months ago
englerston is in the news in 2 articles today. One is their MP misbehaving in the parliament and the other one is the girl gang stabbing...
can englerston please stop voting for this woman election after election. obviously it's not working.
bogart 6 years, 10 months ago
@ MadHatter, very valid point on democracy on representation of the people. We need a serious look on what happens when you have a lopsided parlianent also as to whether those with the smaller side can bring sufficient debate to balance to the overwhelming side. We need to also look at island develppment versus nassau centric. Many Bahamians vote for ghe MP but then they are taken over by toeing the party line, team player etc. Regardless which party is favoured it must be fair that all citizens get full representation.
John 6 years, 10 months ago
From Sir Randol Fawkes Book: ..
"CHAPTER XIII THE DAY THE MACE FLEW OUT THE WINDOW On Thursday, April 16, 1965 about three o’clock in the afternoon, the House of Assembly had resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole to consider the draft order providing for the new constituency boundaries under Section 63 of the 1964 Constitution. In the chair was Dr. Raymond W. Sawyer, the Deputy Speaker; on the floor Brother Milo Boughton Butler, the member for the Western District. “Mr. Chairman,” shouted Milo Butler, “this Constituency Commission has done a wicked thing in cutting up New Providence and the Out Islands in a damnable way in order to give themselves—the minority government—a distinct advantage in thenext general elections.” Milodeveloped this thought into a theme without end. As the last grain of sand filtered through the quarter hour glass, Dr.Sawyer, the Chairman, turned in the direction of Brother Butler and said, “I am very sorry but the member’s time has run out.” “It’s very kind of you to remind me,” replied Brother Butler, “but I intend to talkon. I ain’t going to let any grain of sand stop me from talking. Don’t throw sand in my mouth. I ain’t dead yet.” The Deputy Speaker, who was acting as chairman while the Committee of the Whole House was in session, realizing that he had reached an impasse, suspended the proceedings and reported this incident to the Speaker, the Honourable Robert (Bobby) Symonette. Milo Butler 324 The Speaker, having been informed, ascended the stairway to his elevated bench. On his observing Milo Boughton Butler still standing he said, “Will the Member for the West kindly address his chair.” The Speaker was really asking Brother Butler to sit down but Milo misunderstood the finesse of parliamentary language. “I am not addressing my chair. I am addressing this House,” he replied, while at the same time banging his powerful right fist on the table. “Will you please sit down,” pleaded the Speaker. “I will not,” countered Brother Butler. Therefore the Speaker named Brother Butler under Rule 37 for wilfully disregarding the rules of the House. The Premier, Sir Roland T. Symonette, quickly came to the rescue of his son (the Speaker). “Mr. Speaker,” he said, “I move that the Member for the West (Milo) be suspended for the remainder of this meeting.” This motion was duly seconded by the Honourable Geoffrey A. D. Johnston and then passed. The Speaker then turned to Milo and said, “Will the member please withdraw.” Milo, becoming more impatient by the minute, replied, “I will not withdraw, by grabs!” he continued, “I am getting tired of this darn foolishness!” The Speaker suspended proceedings for a short time. During this interval, the Sergeant-at-Arms, William Malone, bearing the majestic mace, marched toward Milo. “Mr. Butler, will you please leave this House of Assembly!”
John 6 years, 10 months ago
“I refuse to leave!” came the thunderous reply, his right fist pounding on the table and this time scattering all the papers on it. “If I leave Mr. Speaker, you are going to have to take me out,” Milo added as an afterthought. Upon this last refusal, two police sergeants approached Milo. They looked at his large physique and tried to lift him out of the House but were forced to conclude that this giant of a man was just too much for them to handle. Deputy Superintendent of Police, Salathiel Thompson, on observing the quandary of his officers, dispatched two more policemen to the scene of action. There was nothing small about Milo. In those days he weighed close to five hundred pounds. He had big limbs, a big body, a big face, a big mouth and a big heart—all of which he placed in the service of his people. 325 In the next few minutes, there were four policemen on the traditionally greencarpeted House of Democracy. They approached Milo gingerly. Suddenly, two dashed under the table and each one grabbed a leg while, at the same time, each of the other two officers seized an arm of Milo. Slowly they disentangled his legs from under the table and succeeded in lifting him out of the chair and carrying him bodily in the direction of the stairway. On his way down Milo, in formal morning suit with tails, shouted, “If you tear my clothes or my skin somebody is going to have to pay for it.” With Milo out of the way, the Speaker reconvened the meeting. But as soon as it was called to order, another of Her Majesty’s loyal opposition, Brother A. D., Hanna, was on his feet debating the gerrymandering of the Boundaries Commission. He too exhausted his fifteen-minute time bar. He too, refused to stop talking. So the Speaker named him and summoned two policemen to carry him out. Brother Hanna was only a flea weight. One of Milo’s thighs weighed more than the whole of Hanna; yet, when only two policemen came to lift him out of the ancient and honourable House, he became indignant. “Stop!” he shouted. “How dare you give Milo four policemen, and me only two? I demand equal rights Mr. Speaker, equal rights.” TOO HEAVY — Two officers try in vain to carry Milo Butler out of the House of Assembly"
The story continues that eventually SIX policemen had to remove Milo Butler from the chamber. And A.D.Hanna,father of Glenys Hanna-Martin was also evicted shortly after, escorted out by two policemen. Reports are that A.D.protested loudly about discrimination ass he was being thrown out of the House of assembly about what he called discrimination. They had to use six police to throw out Milo Butler but they only used two to throw him out. A. D Hanna weighed around 145 pounds compared to Milo' s HUGE size. Over 500 pounds. "THERE IS NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN"
John 6 years, 10 months ago
History does not repeat itself, people repeat history
CatIslandBoy 6 years, 10 months ago
John, thanks for sharing this important bit of history with your fellow bloggers. I still don't see a connection between what Sir Milo and Midge did and what Glenys just did. Please enlighten me.
John 6 years, 10 months ago
Maybe you should read your prior post on this incident and that maybe why you cannot make the connection @ catislandboy
joeblow 6 years, 10 months ago
Her effectiveness in the House is in no way diminished by her absence from it!
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