As comment by AFC leader disrupts the sitting

A commotion yesterday erupted in the National Assembly over a statement made by Alliance for Change (AFC) Leader Mr. Raphael Trotman during his presentation, prompting Speaker of the House, Mr. Ralph Ramkarran to briefly suspend the proceedings.

Trotman who was speaking on the protection of Guyanese in the Caribbean community, a motion raised in his name, told the House: “When this motion was drafted and presented for debate, I had no intention of creating public hysteria or using the immigration issue for political purposes as has been suggested by the Guyana Head of State; how myopic that point of view is?”.

The latter part of the statement did not go down well with the members on the government side of the House, particularly Mr. Odinga Lumumba who sprang to his feet, asking the Speaker if it is right for Trotman to refer to the President’s views as “myopic”.

Lumumba pointed out he was asking the question because he too could be insulting to the Opposition as Trotman was trying to be with the President.

Ramkarran asked Trotman about his utterance and the AFC Leader told him he would re-read what he had said and proceeded to do so. But he paused at the word “purposes”, conveying the impression he had completed the sentence.

And this is what caused the commotion; but in the midst of the noise, Trotman told the Speaker he had not completed his sentence.

At that point, the Speaker, peeved by the behaviour displayed by members of both sides of the House, temporarily suspended the sitting, and requested Prime Minister Samuel Hinds’ intervention.

The House was adjourned for about 20 minutes and on resumption the Speaker cautioned members from both sides to refrain from their disturbing behaviour, reminding them they are the custodians of the nation.

He said their immature behaviour was not in keeping with the lofty standards of the House.

On that note, he urged the opposition members to stop their loud heckling and those on the government side to cease shouting rudely across the floor.

This irresponsible attitude, he contended, is far from the dignity and respect the House deserves and members must recognise this.

Trotman, on the recommencement of his presentation, said he did not intend to bring the House or the President into disrepute.

But he was interrupted by Lumumba who again queried from Ramkarran if the former statement was suited for the House and the Speaker promptly requested that he should stop aggravating the situation.

A determined Lumumba persisted; but the Speaker refused to listen to him and at that point he left the House.

Earlier in the sitting, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds had tabled the Draft Low Carbon Development Strategy and President Bharrat Jagdeo’s presentation at the launch of that initiative in the House, along with the motion on the LCDS.

Human Services and Social Security Minister Priya Manickchand also presented the Sexual Offences Bill and Child Care and Development Services Bill, and requested that both legislations be sent to a Special Select Committee.

The Administration of Justice Bill raised in the name of Attorney General Charles Ramson was read for the first time, and Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh again deferred the second reading of the Leader of the Opposition (Benefits and Other Facilities) Bill.