MPs Back In House Of Assembly On Friday
The House of Assembly is set to go back in tomorrow [May 15], with a number of issues outstanding including the Censure Motion against Speaker of the House Randy Horton, the Censure Motion against Opposition Leader Marc Bean, as well as the recent developments surrounding the airport contract, which have resulted in a call from the People’s Campaign for people to gather at the House at 9am to “make their voices heard.”
Gathering At 9am Over Airport Contract
The People’s Campaign recently released over 2,000 pages of emails showing correspondence between Aecon, CCC and the Government over the contract to develop the new airport terminal, and said they are “calling upon all Bermudians to make their voices heard on Friday, May 15, 2015 beginning at 9:00am at the House of Assembly demanding that all persons involved be held fully accountable.”
Finance Minister Bob Richards has strenuously denied accusations levied against him by the People’s Campaign, saying the “notion that somehow we were doing some sort of deal with Aecon before we met and dealt with CCC is nonsense” and the “idea that somehow we had some sort of plot or collusion is ludicrous,” adding that “there is nothing that we have done that has not been according to the book.”
The Opposition have taken a different view, saying “these documents prove collusion to extract over a billion dollars from Bermuda in the form of a no-bid contract,” and the deal was “tainted from the start,” with Shadow Minister of Finance David Burt saying the “Minister of Finance is unquestionably compromised” and “the path now leads only to his resignation or removal and the termination of this entire shameful affair.”
In addition to the gathering set at 9am, the airport matter is due to be discussed by MPs during the sitting, with Mr Burt saying in yesterday’s press conference that “Parliament is scheduled to debate the airport this Friday.”
Censure Motion Against Opposition Leader
On March 16th, Mark Pettingill [OBA] gave notice of a motion which said it “condemns and expressed disgust at the words and actions” of the Opposition Leader Marc Bean, and “censures the member accordingly” and “suspends the member from the service of the House.”
Mr. Pettingill later told Bernews, “We have heard over the course of the last two-and-a-half years, two years repeatedly, vitriolic and offensive comments have been made, particularly on interpolation during the procedures in the House” adding that “we’ve had this going on now for some time, it’s got to stop” and the “appropriate way to go about that is to bring this type of motion that the government has tabled today.”
Notice of the motion seeking to censure the Opposition Leader
A Motion moved by Hon. M. J. Pettingill that this House:
- Condemns and expressed disgust at the words and actions of the Member from Warwick East Central, the Leader of the Opposition, on Friday, March 13, and censures the member accordingly
- Abhors the action of the member for Warwick East Central in verbally threatening Members of the House and showing total disrespect to the Office of the Speaker of the House, and by this action, seriously reflecting up on the honour and dignity of the House; and
- Suspends the member for Warwick East Central from the service of the House. In addition, the Opposition Leader failed to acknowledge the seriousness and gravity the behaviour identified, which is not the type of behaviour that should be associated with Bermuda’s Opposition Leader, or any Member of Parliament
Censure Motion Against Speaker
Also on March 16th, Michael Scott [PLP] gave notice of a motion seeking to censure Speaker of the House Randy Horton for what they said was his “misconduct of suppressing debate in the House of Assembly” and the “misuse and abuse of his authority as Speaker.”
This motion follows after the Speaker made the decision to eject Shadow Minister of Finance David Burt from the House on March 13th after Mr Burt tried to make Points of Order over an amendment being taken straight to a vote without debate, and the Speaker subsequently said that “with the benefit of hindsight, I now accept that I should not have allowed the amended motion to be brought to a vote at such an early stage.”
Notice of the motion seeking to censure the Speaker
A motion moved by the Hon. M. J. Scott hereby gives notice, that this Honourable House censures the Member for Southampton West and Speaker of the House the Hon. K.R.H. Horton, J.P. M.P. for :-
- Bringing the democracy of these Islands of Bermuda and its Parliament into disrepute, by his misconduct of suppressing debate in the House of Assembly, on an amendment to an Opposition motion, of public importance, and in breach of basic tenets of parliamentary procedure;
- Bringing Parliament into disrepute, by his misconduct of refusing to both acknowledge and take a point of Order and refusing to allow and hear a point of Privilege by the Member for Pembroke West Central, who rose on a point of Privilege, in breach of the Standing Orders of the House, numbers 11 (3) (a) and 13 (1) as read with 21 (1) (i);
- Bringing the Parliament into disrepute, by the misuse and abuse of his authority as Speaker, by ejecting the member for Pembroke West Central immediately after the Member rose on a point of Privilege without any lawful or justifiable grounds to eject the Member;
- Displaying a woeful ignorance and lack of understanding of Standing Orders of the House of Assembly and basic Parliamentary procedure thereby bringing the Parliament into disrepute;
The People’s Campaign called for people to gather at 9am, and the sitting of the House begins at 10am.
Sounds like a great agenda to keep this lot busy; avoids having them enacting laws to protect the status quo, supress competition, increase red tape, etc.
Quo Fata Ferunt
fingers crossed the PLP can last a session without walking out in protest at the choice of tea bags.
Between the items up for discussion in that first paragraph and the presence of the Peoples Campaign, it’s almost certain there will be a walkout, just a matter of what time it happens.
Well that first paragraph really says it all doesn’t it?
The house will immediately begin dealing with wasteful procedural nonsense, name-calling and spurious accusations.
The Circus is back in town on Friday?
9AM is the big entry?
@Circus?!,
Circus is right. I don’t have anything against the PC (though I find they tend to be biased on their political allegiance while claiming to represent ALL the people); but really, Friday morning at 9:00am????
Who exactly is this gathering trying to attract? Why not 12:00pm? That way ALL Bermuda can decide to participate on their lunch break. I don’t work in the Public sector and will be showing up on my job at 9:00am as I will NOT be using up a vacation day for an issue that is not even proving to be confirmed or factual.
Secondly as this IS NOT a Union or Government (reference to workers) related topic; I would expect Government employees to be showing up for a normal work day as well.
So I’m back to my original question; who is this call for gathering trying to attract????
SMH
I heard that it is an all day event. For supporters to come by wearing red, while the House is in Session, as they will be there outside. I won’t be joining them. I have much more important things to do, like listening to the antics in the House on the radio!
Thanks Lois Frederick… That would make more sense. My bad for not truly understanding the rally cry.
I guess it pertains to the thousands of Bermudians that are out of work . Or those that are tried of lies, deceit those who want answers. jussayin.
And the main event is inside.
So the circus is back – as ‘Huh?’ says, the first paragraph says it all.
It is no different than what takes places in YOUR House of Commons Jeremy.Back in YOUR home, the UK.
You know the English pride themselves on what they term the stability of their political system over the last few hundred years.
But maybe that was only achieved by being able to export hundreds of thousands of Anglo migrants around the world throughout their empire bringing with them their racist baggage, sense of superiority, and entitlement.
Nothing really has changed has it Jeremy?
Why don’t you tell us what you really think?
Sounds like the whole day will be taken up with petty arguments between children who can’t agree AT OUR GREAT EXPENSE.
Get on with our business now PLEASE!
And People’s Complainers – please take a break.
All in all you are an embarrassing lot.
I wish I had a job that allowed me to protest at 9 am. Far as I can see, the People’s Campaign is not a union.
I agree that ‘all persons should be held fully accountable’.
As such let me express my gratitude to Aecon who thought the airport would be a good project, CCC who agreed and Bob Richards and whoever else was involved who did their due diligence in making certain the agreement would be good for Bermuda.
As for letting my voice be heard, honestly if I went to the HoA, I really doubt those showing up would be willing to listen to anything I have to say because my voice would be counter to their usual chants.
Ya and it might turn ugly for you.
Please explain Mockingjay?
That sounds like a personal and physical threat.
MEANING WHAT ?
Nah.
You should be careful Mock. Your comments here are becoming like Eva’s letters to the editor. You see the name and you bypass them completely cos you know it’ll be the same old BS.
Try writing something of relevance instead of the same old hate.
Clearly you think less of the people attending than I do. Sad that.
@ Rhonnie aka BlueFamiliar: Hear yea! hear yea! That’s the bottom-line…
No-matter if we go or not the only difference is we will be adding to the visible numbers at the act e.g.”People Campaign” / P.L.P. protest. No, not me. Listen we will see and hear a number of protester like always and like always,”the empty cans / tins will make the most noise.”
Those “empty cans” are provided by the PLP and their budgeted fund from ‘where did all the money go’.
Stay tuned.
Bermuda’s Reef Line is about to be redefined.
(must put this in my memories book.)
Mokingjay. Your turning into a real hater. Your comments are not jest; period.
They are not factual and only to mislead and or create division.
You know what Special Branch and MI 5 is correct; et al.
You sound like a wanna be jihadist or person who has been radicalized.
Shalom.
@ Terry: Revenge isn’t a passion, it’s a disease and unfortunately many are inflicted…
We all know who Mockingjay really is. He switches up his pen names so his bosses don’t catch him commenting all day. What he really should be doing is trying to keep the lights on.
Ya but we the working public prob do that for him
Please tell me Pettigill corrected his motion. The Opposition Leader represents WARWICK SOUTH CENTRAL #26 – my constituency. Go Marc – Go PLP!!!!
Yes, please go…away.