The Tribune

EDITOR, The Tribune.

THE HOUSE of Assembly yesterday was mild in comparison to some debates in the Mother of Parliaments, The House of Commons London.

Having watched the incident live on channel 40, I have to ask why did the Speaker abdicate totally his authority in the chair of the Speaker? For far far less, Speaker Alvin Smith stood and brought debate to an immediate halt but in this incident, not as the Speaker's usual practice is, he jumps out of his seat very quickly for what seems to be very minor incidents.

Was this whole matter totally managed theatre of the FNM?

The Speaker abdicated his authority and even the FNM frontline and second line said nothing and did nothing, but smiled. Imagine the likes of Carl Bethell, Charles Maynard and Brencil Rolle and Tommy Turnquest not protesting, not forgetting the master of parliamentary acts the Rt Hon Hubert Ingraham? Editor not a single protest.

The issue is simple, Hon Bernard Nottage and Alfred Sears are 100 per cent correct... there is a right for any committee member to write a minority report, but a minority report I suggest has to be factual based on evidence collected by the committee from when they brought witnesses to their hearings - Mr Thompson is said to have attended one meeting so other than reading a FNM public relations release his minority report has obviously got to be questioned.

Theatre in the House - certainly there is enough obvious evidence, and let's move on as there was no real incident here but to take the incident to the airwaves and a political rally that evening.

J MOORE

Nassau,

March 9, 2012.