THE OPPOSITION Barbados Labour Party today staged two walkouts from the House of Assembly, protesting Speaker Michael Carrington’s decision not to temporarily vacate the chair.
The first walkout occurred this morning after Carrington dismissed Opposition suggestions that he should continue to let someone else preside over sittings of the House until Parliament’s Committee of Privileges had made a ruling on a matter involving him.
Carrington later left the chamber on an unexplained mission and the eight opposition members, including Opposition Leader Mia Mottley, returned to take their seats and listen to a presentation Minister of Tourism Richard Sealy was making on a bill dealing with Barbados Port Inc.
But as soon as the Speaker returned they left again.
AUDIO: Mia Mottley vs Michael Carrington
When the House of Assembly met last week Tuesday, Carrington, a Queen’s Counsel, opted to recuse himself as the Opposition drew attention to a court case in which he has been asked to surrender nearly a quarter million dollars which had been withheld from a client.
Today Carrington received some support in the House from Prime Minister Freundel Stuart, who told MPs he saw no reason why the matter had been referred to the Committee of Privileges in the first place. (TY)
