THE Peoples’ Progressive Party (PPP) has condemned the disrespectful conduct of PNCR-1-G Member of Parliament, Aubrey Norton, in the National Assembly on Thursday last.
The incident reportedly took place during a debate on a motion commemorating Commonwealth Day under the theme, ‘Women as Agents of Change’.
The PPP, in a statement, recalled that at a recent meeting of the Guyana Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), at which the Opposition was represented, it was decided that a non-controversial motion would be presented, which would be supported by all political parties represented in the National Assembly.
It said that a motion, which had been in the possession of PNCR Leader, Robert Corbin since last year and which could not conceivably have caused offence to the PNCR, was moved in the National Assembly by Prime Minister Sam Hinds.
The PNCR-1-G appeared to have no objection to the motion, the PPP said, because it raised none and suggested no amendment prior to the Sitting.
Also, during the Prime Minister’s presentation, he commended the late President Desmond Hoyte for his role in donating a large portion of Guyana’s forests for the Iwokrama project to be managed by the Commonwealth.
However, after some preliminary remarks, Norton launched into a vicious attack on the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and the Government of Guyana (GOG), completely ignoring the decision of the CPA and the protocol associated with motions such as the one he was addressing.
According to the statement: “It was only after going on, ad infinitum, that Speaker Ralph Ramkarran, whose tolerance in permitting departures from relevance is well known — as was recently demonstrated in the debate on the Pensions Bill during last week, when the PNCR-1-G abandoned all sense of relevance and, in elections mode, attacked the Government on a wide range of issues irrelevant to the Bill — [intervened].”
It goes on: “After allowing Mr. Norton more latitude than he deserved, the Speaker intervened and pointed out the decision of the CPA, the irrelevance of Mr. Norton’s contribution, and the fact that the motion was in Mr. Corbin’s possession since last year.”
But Norton, who took umbrage at the Speaker’s ruling, the statement says, “… engaged in unseemly conduct and proceeded to denigrate the Speaker’s integrity. He refused to apologise, as a result of which he was deservedly disallowed from continuing his presentation.”
The PPP is of the view that the walkout of the Opposition after the Speaker’s ruling, and the PNCR’s later statement justifying the walkout and the attack on the Speaker “not only demonstrate their (the PNCR’s)  disrespect for the Commonwealth, as well as for the theme, ‘Women as Agents of Change’ and for the National Assembly, but is insulting to Speaker Ramkarran, who has treated both sides of the House with courtesy, respect and impartiality throughout his two terms of office.”