Speaker Andy Daniel has suspended today’s House of Assembly sitting. Members of parliament were debating a motion to extend the State of Emergency in Saint Lucia From June 1 to September 30. Following Prime Minister Allen Chastanet’s introduction of the motion, Opposition leader Philip J Pierre, Dennery North MP Shawn Edward and Vieux Fort North MP Moses Jn. Baptiste all made contributions. After Jn. Baptiste’s contribution, Speaker Daniel waited to see which MP would turn on their light to signal their intention to speak.
The prime minister turned on his mic and was called on by the speaker. The prime minister then began to thank members of the Opposition for adding their voice to the debate, and was proceeding to put the motion before the House, to be voted on. (Opposition MPs Ernest Hilaire, Dr. Kenny Anthony and Alva Baptiste had not yet spoken on the motion).
Castries South MP Dr. Ernest Hilaire then stood on a point of order: “The sergeant of arms was moving the podium, when he took it away, I pressed my mic. You cannot sneak around pressing mics to avoid debate. The sergeant of arms was moving the podium, as soon as he moved it, I pressed my mic…What’s the value in sneaking to end the debate?… Let the debate continue. The standing orders allow for the views of the minority to be heard,” said the MP.
Speaker Daniel responded: “I have watched this House this morning. I have allowed members to take their cool time to decide who will speak….I waited to see the sergeant of arms move away so that I could tell whether or not any member beyond member for Dennery North had indicated his willingness to speak by turning on his light…When I realized no member intended to speak, and the prime minister’s light was on, I called on the prime minister. Okay, that was it.”
MP Hilaire was not satisfied and stood on another point of order, stating that he had every intention to speak. The extension of the state of emergency, he said, is a critical piece of legislation. “I was not outside and I rushed in to try and reach here…I intended to speak. This motion is too critical to allow a situation where members on the other side, who represent people of Saint Lucia and their constituencies, to be denied to speak. The government should have nothing to fear. I ask to reconsider your decision!”
Speaker Daniel remained resolute: “When it comes to protect the rights of the minority, I will stand for that. I have no issue with that. Whether or not the prime minister’s finger was on the button, I would not call on the prime minister until I made sure that the sergeant of arms stood away from the member of Dennery North, for me to make sure that there was no one on that side intending to speak.
“Whether you intend to speak is not reflected by me simply looking at you. It is reflected by you turning on your light, that is it. I’m not saying that you don’t have the right to speak or you should not speak. I will not try to deny you that right,” said the speaker.
With this statement, Speaker Daniel called on the prime minister to continue speaking, which led to opposition members chanting “shame, shame”. The prime minister attempted to continue amidst the cross-talk from members of both sides of the House. Following a statement by Chastanet that opposition MPs Edward and Pierre had supported the state of emergency, Edward stood on a point of order. However, the point of order was not articulated, as Pierre took umbrage to cross-talk from the government side.
It is unclear which government MP Pierre was referring to but he took offence to Edward being called a “boy.” Said an irate Pierre: “How can you call the man boy? You calling the man boy? What’s wrong with you? Why you calling the man boy? Don’t call the man boy gassa, what’s wrong with you?”
Trying in vain to get Pierre to settle down, the Speaker had enough: “Honourable members, I’m out of this House for the time being. This House stands suspended,” said Daniel, who then left the House.
UPDATE: The House of Assembly sitting has since resumed: https://stluciastar.com/house-speaker-chides-mps-if-we-do-not-want-to-be-here-we-could-just-all-walk-out/
