Support for MP after ejected by Speaker

SEAN DOUGLAS

NAPARIMA MP Rodney Charles got the full support of his UNC constituency executive to speak unimpeded as the voice of his constituents, hours after he was ejected from the House of Representatives on Friday by Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George.

Charles was speaking when the Speaker told him to sit, and minutes later they had a verbal exchange prompting the Speaker to order the MP to leave the chamber.

"The Naparima Constituency Executive met this evening in an emergency session to review the actions of the unelected Speaker of the House, and came to the conclusion that her actions did not allow him to operate effectively as the MP for Naparima," said a statement by Naparima UNC Chairman Nazrodeen Mohammed.

Mohammed claimed the Speaker had made "constant and unnecessary" interruptions of Charles during his speech on the Interception of Communication (Amendment) Bill, forcing the MP to end prematurely.

"The executive members and the 16,000 constituents of Naparima were amazed by what we saw on television in what is supposed to be the national home of democracy and free speech."

The statement said the Speaker's actions had caused them great distress as she derailed his ability to properly represent them in Parliament and had hindered debate on new legislation.

"The executive hopes that going forward the Speaker would live up to the traditions of her high office and operate consistent with the responsibility that it requires.

"The MP was directed by the executive to continue the struggle for equality, and was further informed that the voice of the people of Naparima must not under any circumstances be silenced."