Grounded in my Atlanta bunker by an impending snow storm that never materialized, I tuned in to the first ever Motion of No Confidence debated in the Saint Lucia House of Assembly. I was quickly reminded that official government functions on the Rock of Sages never begin on time. Billed to commence at 10:00 a.m. the proceedings started well after the scheduled time. Not a word about the delay; business as usual. No apology; indiscipline is a manifest cultural disposition.
Then a uniformed police officer led the way with a goldplated Mace, the colonial symbol of shackles supposedly broken some 40 years ago. We became an independent nation on February 22, 1979, but our colonial masters are still symbolically present—a constant reminder that for small states, sovereignty and non-alignment are mere words. With no natural resources we are just a speck of dust on the doorstep of the economic sharks; sardines in an ocean of insatiable whales. Oh, about that rehearsed opening prayer intended to appeal to a higher power for guidance. By now it can safely be argued that the gods must be deaf or they simply plug their ears with the latest iPhone or Samsung earbuds. The bacchanal behaviour of our “honourable members” long ago expelled God from Saint Lucia’s House of Dissemble, as the departed George Odlum often referred to our honourable House. It’s difficult to live with the reality that the professed Christians are among the worst offenders of the Ten Commandments.
When Speaker Andy Daniel took his seat and called the House to Order he appeared to be carrying a very heavy load. He seemed unsure, jittery and anxious. There was something unsettling about his facial expressions and body language. From my iPad screen, it did not appear that he’d had much sleep the previous night. Perhaps he was preoccupied with the day’s misadventure about to unfold before the nation. Maybe he was mindful of times past when the gold Mace was lifted from its lofty place and tossed disrespectfully around a riotous House. He might also have been contemplating his place in history, in relation to the Motion of No Confidence. It can also be that he knew very well, history and experience in his back pocket, that dealing with undisciplined and egotistic grown men is no easy task.
It did not take long to discern the reason for the Speaker’s evident anxiety and preoccupation. As soon as the Motion was tabled by Opposition Leader Philip Pierre, the government side challenged the constitutionality of the proceedings. MP Guy Joseph rose on a point of order. He argued that the Constitution did not support a Motion of No Confidence in the prime minister’s name, that the Motion should be against the government. Obviously he’d read Rick Wayne’s comments in the weekend STAR. It would’ve been commendable to give the author credit for his research. Alas, the MP parroted Rick’s lines like the Amazona versicolor (the island’s national bird). Like a dead car battery on a bitter cold winter day, the MP’s objection gave Speaker Daniel a badly needed jump-start. Demonstrating he had come prepared with facts and court cases under his belt, the Speaker ruled that there was nothing wrong with the opposition leader’s Motion. He ruled that the proceedings were in keeping with the Standing Orders of the House and called on Pierre to proceed. The government side seemed stymied and unsure of its next move. The opposition was gleeful. In the space of 30 minutes I counted about five times the government’s side interrupted the leader of the opposition, at times reposting the very point of order that the Speaker had already ruled on. What followed was a painful and savage attempt by the government side to derail the session with disruptive, nonsensical and meaningless points of order that went nowhere. The Speaker’s frustration was at times on full display. Although conscious of the fact that he was the House’s “referee”, he was also attempting to provide the government an out by hinting that they too would have an opportunity to respond to the Motion. It was difficult for the Speaker under the barrage of illogical and disruptive calls to maintain his cool and sanity, but he was able to be the adult in the unruly House of Disorder.
In my view, the uncontrollable outburst by MP Peter Lenard “Spider” Montoute was ample ground for expulsion from the House. However, Speaker Daniel exercised great discretion and maintained an even-handedness in dealing with both sides of the House. As the day progressed he displayed courage and confidence. He handled his moment in history with tact, diplomacy and fairness. He also showed the nation’s childish politicians that there is something bigger than spiteful party politics. The good name of the country was at stake and the Speaker shone brightly in the darkness of the horror house.
Interestingly, the government side seemed oblivious and blind to the reality that the Motion of No Confidence, which by their own calculation the opposition stood no chance of winning, was simply an exercise of a democratic convention; a political instrument protected by House rules that govern equality and fairness.
Finally, the Motion was solidly defeated by the government’s unwavering 11-6 majority. Amazingly, the democratic institution and its conventions survived the onslaught. Maybe, it’s time to call on honorable members to behave with decorum and respect when representing the people. Ya’ll, the world is watching.
