Opposition MP George Payne was today chided for not acknowledging the chair of the Speaker of the House of Assembly when he enters the Lower Chamber.
Speaker, Michael Carrington firmly told Payne, and other parliamentarians that he would not allow the office of Speaker to be disrespected.
“I have noticed that from time to time there are members who come into the chamber without acknowledging the chair”.
He referred to Standing Order 33, which states that members must pay respect to the Chair. It states: “A member while present in the House during a debate must be uncovered and must make an obeisance to the chair.
Addressing Payne in particular, the Speaker said: “I have noticed that since certain matters you are one of the members who come into this chamber without acknowledging the chair.
“I will not allow the office of Speaker to be disrespected in this way. I don’t want to be involved in these petty things but members, I assure you that I will insist on the traditions” he said.
Carrington said it was difficult to deal with this issue since he considered Payne a friend who he had respect for.
In his defence, Payne said he was taken back by the comments as he was unaware of his actions.
“I have been a member of this House for a longer period than any person in this House at this particular point in time. I have always honoured the rules as far as I know. I don’t know if because of certain matters before the House, you yourself might imagine that I have not extended certain courtesies.
“I am certainly not aware of that and that is certainly not in my nature. I don’t want to apologise for your imagination but …I would like to assure you that I have never intended to disrespect the chair. I have known you for a long time, longer than I was even in this House and I am surprised that you would really think that I would display that level of behavior or discourtesy towards you.
“It is not even something I can apologise for because I am not aware of it and I certainly when I come to this chamber if it means standing right in front of you so that you know that I extend those courtesies I certainly will”.
“I want you to know that if it so happened that those courtesies were not extended it is because of the fact that I was not aware, or I was distracted or something like that”.
It is not good in a House of 30 people to pick on one person because I am sure that there are other members of this House who come to these chambers and come straight in and sat, not deliberately.
“If that is your feeling, I want you to know it was not intended because I am not aware of it”, said the St Andrew MP.
Carrington, in response, assured that he was not imagining things.
“The fact remains that there are norms and certain behaviours expected in this House and friend or foe, it will be enforced. That is all I have to say”.
Payne, who again rose from his seat, said he felt so strongly about this issue that he would not be taking part in the debate.
“I don’t want to compromise my position and I have decided I will not speak on this occasion. I believe that if that is your opinion I certainly am taken aback by it. I believe your ruling should be that I should not speak because I have not extended those courtesies to you. So my speaking in this Chamber will have to come at some time after you have accepted the fact that I showed no discourtesy to this House.
[email protected]
