Bahamas opposition leader ousted from parliament by police Published on August 9, 2013 Email To Friend Print Version bahamas_opposition1.jpg Opposition members left the Chamber of the House of Assembly to conduct a press conference in the minority room but were requested to leave. Photo: Torrell Glinton TNG 2013 bahamas_opposition2.jpg Opposition leader Dr Hubert Minnis (C) and deputy leader Loretta Butler-Turner protest removal by force. Photo: Torrell Glinton TNG 2013 By Taneka Thompson Nassau Guardian Senior Reporter NASSAU, Bahamas -- The Bahamas House of Assembly’s morning session was halted on Wednesday when police officers, including two assistant commissioners, filed on to the chamber’s floor to forcibly remove leader of the opposition Dr Hubert Minnis from the premises after Speaker Dr Kendal Major suspended him for two sittings. This came after the Killarney MP and Free National Movement (FNM) leader refused to withdraw comments he made in mid-July in the House about Prime Minister Perry Christie’s relationship with fashion designer Peter Nygard, despite repeated orders from Major to do so. After he was ordered out of the House, Minnis remained defiant and stayed in his seat. The officers got into confrontations with several FNM MPs who tried to block access to Minnis. Three uniformed officers grabbed Montagu MP Richard Lightbourn by his arms and moved him away from where he stood in order to gain access to Minnis. A scuffle ensued as two officers tried to move around Lightbourn – who stood firm – in order to reach Minnis. Two other officers grabbed Central Grand Bahama MP Neko Grant as they tried to get close to Minnis too. This prompted an outcry from FNM deputy leader and Long Island MP Loretta Butler-Turner, who told police not to touch any opposition member. “Don’t put your hand on me or him. We will leave,” she said. “You all move. Don’t put your hand on any of us.” At one point Minnis dared the officers to move him. “See my tie. Drag me over. Pull me over,” he said to the officers, gesturing with his necktie. Assistant Commissioners of Police Leon Bethell and Stephen Seymour were among the group of officers who filed into the House to escort Minnis outside. Seven FNM MPs, with the exception of Central and South Abaco MP Edison Key, later left the debating chamber. However, the MPs clashed with police a second time when they tried to converge in the House Minority Room. Minnis held an impromptu press conference on the steps of the House flanked by the MPs who followed him out of the House and dozens of party supporters. Minnis said the Speaker’s actions were an affront to democracy. He added that he stood behind the statement he made about the prime minister and Nygard last month. “My belief, and hence my words, remain as on the first day they were uttered,” Minnis said. “The association of the prime minister and a number of his Cabinet colleagues with Peter Nygard has been judged by many as being most unseemly and outrageously inappropriate. “I continue to believe that the cozy relationship between Mr. Christie, his government and Mr Nygard is unhealthy for our democracy.” The Killarney MP also alleged that Dr Arthur Porter, former chairman of the government’s stem cell task force, was a financial backer of the PLP. Porter is in a Panama jail fighting extradition to Canada over fraud charges connected to a billion-dollar investment in Canada. Lightbourn said police treatment of the MPs was “unfortunate”. “I don’t think that I should have been subjected to what I was,” he said. “They tried to move me and force me away from where I was standing, so I resisted and we finally left without incident.” Major told reporters during the House lunch break that police would stop Minnis from entering the House until his suspension is up. “A sergeant appointed by the speaker will prevent any access by the member for Killarney for two consecutive sittings of Parliament,” Major said. When the House resumed, Prime Minister Perry Christie said the incident amazed him. “Having spent near 40 years in Parliament, and next year would be my 40th year in public life, I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed a display that makes no sense whatsoever,” he said. “I tried my best to understand what could have been the political motivation of the leader of the opposition.” The House resumed the morning session after the FNM MPs left. The stem cell bill was passed in the afternoon with the support of the governing side and Key. The House of Assembly will meet again on Monday.
Posted on: Fri, 09 Aug 2013 03:16:45 +0000
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