Chaos unfolded in Parliament on Tuesday afternoon as opposition members initiated a walkout in response to a ruling by Deputy Speaker of the House, Heroy Clarke.
The incident arose after Deputy Speaker Clarke denied Opposition Leader Mark Golding’s request to table a motion regarding Prime Minister Andrew Holness’ statutory declarations.
Referencing a breach of standing orders, Deputy Speaker Clarke determined that the matter was currently before the courts, triggering a significant uproar among members.
As Parliament proceeded to discuss member’s motions, Juliet Holness, the wife of the Prime Minister and Speaker of the House, recused herself from the Chamber, allowing Deputy Speaker Clarke to assume the role of Acting Speaker.
Initially, Deputy Speaker Clarke permitted Opposition Leader Golding to introduce his motion; however, this was promptly contested by MP Pearnel Charles Junior. The Deputy Speaker subsequently upheld Charles Junior’s objection, ruling Golding’s motion inadmissible on the grounds that it was already before the courts.
Despite Golding’s persistent attempts to advance his argument, Speaker Clarke remained steadfast in his ruling, resulting in heightened frustration among Opposition members. In a show of defiance, they ultimately walked out of the Chamber in protest.
Upon their return, House Speaker Holness provided an explanation for her prior absence. Meanwhile, Mr. Charles Junior criticized the Opposition, asserting that their actions represented a strategy to exploit Parliament for publicity.
He contended that the People’s National Party (PNP) would pursue power at any cost, even compromising the integrity of Parliament. Pearnel Charles Junior serves as the Member of Parliament for South East Clarendon.
Later, the Opposition released a statement emphasizing that their motion reflects a critical need for accountability and ethical governance in Jamaica. The statement highlighted a serious violation of the Ministerial Code of Conduct, established in 2002, which mandates transparency and ethical standards for Cabinet members.
The PNP claimed that Prime Minister Holness has faced scrutiny for failing to reveal to the public that he was under investigation.
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