“This Speaker Will Not Be Silenced… This Speaker Will Not Be Bullied”

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NASSAU , BAHAMAS – The House of Assembly erupted into chaos on Wednesday afternoon as House Speaker Patricia Deveaux stood her ground in a clash over the Public Accounts Committee, declaring, “This Speaker will not be silenced,” as members talked over each other and tensions boiled over.

Our Delvardo Emmanuel has the fiery exchange.

Patricia Deveaux – Speaker, House of Assembly

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight,”

House Speaker Patricia Deveaux fired back in dramatic fashion during a heated exchange in the House of Assembly this afternoon.

The fiery clash erupted over a dispute involving the Public Accounts Committee, with government and opposition members arguing over whether matters left unfinished before Parliament was dissolved ahead of the general election could be brought back before the committee.

Kwasi Thompson – Member of Parliament, East Grand Bahama

“We made a determination as to what matters the new committee would deal with, which is in our purview. We have the ability to make a determination as to what matters the Public Accounts Committee will deal with.”

As members shouted across the floor and repeatedly interrupted each other, Deveaux stepped in to deliver a firm ruling, stating that all business under the previous Parliament had fallen away following dissolution.

Patricia Deveaux – Speaker, House of Assembly

“Y’all want to come here, you want to tell the Speaker how to do her job, and then go into the public arena and say I’m not fair. But there are rules and regulations, and y’all know what is right from what is wrong, and then you want me to side for what is wrong. I will not — I’m going to tell the world, just like how you all tell the media — I will not be silenced.”

But the clash didn’t end there, as Opposition Leader Michael Pintard responded to Deveaux, insisting she did not have the power to rule on the workings of the PAC.

Patricia Deveaux – Speaker, House of Assembly

“The PAC will resume its work, Madam Speaker. Can you believe that? And we are prepared — wow — to test it in court if it is necessary, Madam Speaker.

Well, go right ahead.

We’re prepared to test it.

My legal team is sitting right back there.

Whenever you’re ready.

Madam Speaker—

Whenever you’re ready.

What you are saying is inappropriate.

Whenever you’re ready.

You have not even heard—

Whenever you’re ready.

You have not even heard—

Whenever you’re ready.

“Whenever you’re ready, you take the Speaker to court. But this Speaker will not be silenced. This Speaker will not be bullied. This Speaker will not adhere because of what you want to do personally. This Speaker will abide by the rules and the regulations that are in place.”