Six Opposition Members Suspended from Parliament

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – “It is so moved that for the next two sittings, the next two sittings, the honorable members mentioned will not be allowed to sit in this honorable assembly,” House Speaker Patricia Deveaux said.

“Thank you, honorable members. Have a marvelous day, and enjoy your Christmas holidays.”

And with that, the entire official opposition except former Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis was suspended from Parliament for two sittings.

It punctuated a tension-filled settIng following last weeks chaos in Parliament.

As the FNM MPs were being named, PLPs were outside Parliament supporting the government.

Deveaux reviewed the incidents of the last two sittings of Parliament; the latest saw the mace thrown out of the window by deputy leader Shanendon Cartwright.

It’s a move Deveaux called a breach of the decorum and respect that must govern Parliamentary proceedings.

Deveaux added there was no logical excuse for what took place, adding it cannot and will not be ignored.

But the chastising didn’t end there. She also referred to last week’s session when she says pPintard wrote a letter to the speaker requesting to make a contribution but was denied.

Deveaux says there were infractions and violations made.

The six members were named and Deveaux turned the matter over to the leader of government business, Wayne Munroe, and to the committee of privileges for a thorough investigation but the opposition didn’t take it lightly.

Munroe then moved for the suspension.

The six members of the official opposition walked out and held a press conference while house proceedings carried on.

“We will continue to speak on behalf of the Bahamian people without fair or favoritism and no amount of characterizing us in a negative way by the prime minister and his team, and the speaker who have surrendered her authority to the executive, no amount of criticism will deter us,” Opposition Leader Michael Pintard said.

“The Bahamian people will not be silenced.”