NOW that the Privileges Committee has wrapped up its consideration of the facts surrounding the well publicised, condemnable actions of eight members of parliament from the A Partnership for National Unity + Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) who desecrated the Speaker of the National Assembly’s Mace — one of the most important symbols of Guyana’s democracy, suspension of the members involved was recommended in the official report.

Interestingly, this type of behaviour is quite on brand for some members in the lot. Only recently, Opposition MP Sherod Duncan quipped during his morning programme that this Thursday’s Sitting of the National Assembly will be his first time returning to the House since he was suspended for four sittings some time last year due to his disruptive behaviour in the Assembly. Duncan is now at risk of being suspended again.

On December 29, in a bid to defend the landmark Natural Resources Fund (NRF) Bill, which has since been passed and assented to by President, Dr Irfaan Ali, Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance, Dr Ashni Singh, was interrupted by what was referred to as the unparliamentary actions of members of the Opposition.

The second reading of the bill, then, was objected to by Jones, who asked that the bill be sent to a Special Select Committee. But Speaker of the House, Manzoor Nadir, then responded by saying that he prefers listening to the arguments on both sides before determining whether or not the bill should be sent to a select committee.

Minister Singh then took to the podium, but his presentation was interrupted by members of the APNU+AFC Opposition, who kept banging on their desks and chanting demeaning words about the bill. The uproar continued for several minutes, even as Minister Singh pressed ahead with his presentation.

The protest from the Opposition grew, as the Opposition MPs, armed with placards, converged at the centre floor of the dome of the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, where the National Assembly is being held.

One of the MPs, Annette Ferguson, went a step further to steal the Speaker’s Mace; she was immediately joined by some of her other colleagues. This unprecedented act was foiled by a young clerk of the House, who managed to secure the instrument, to which he held on tightly as he laid on the floor of the conference centre. A video posted on social media shows one of the Opposition parliamentarians verbally abusing the Parliamentary Clerk, using racial slurs.

The political opposition, much like its modus operandi in the past, is now seeking to reject the recommendation of the Privileges Committee by discrediting the entire process. This sort of behaviour is misplaced in Guyana’s democracy. This is a rule-based country and the parliamentary procedures outlined in the Standing Orders and Speakers’ Rulings provide ample parameters for vetting any concerns felt by any member of the House during or after Sittings. But the political opposition has a selective familiarity with these rules.