The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

LORETTA Butler-Turner, FNM deputy leader insists that Speaker of the House Dr Kendal Major has displayed “a gross bias” towards opposition MPs in Parliament.

Mrs Butler-Turner said such preferential treatment of the government’s side has lent to Dr Major’s inability to maintain order especially at times of extreme contention during House proceedings.

She was speaking to The Tribune yesterday where she declared support of party leader Dr Hubert Minnis who defied Dr Major’s orders in Parliament on Monday. That disruption eventually led to a nearly two-week adjournment. The House is not expected to convene until August 7.

“He seems to be intimidated by the side he supports,” Mrs Butler-Turner said, “ but in the grand scheme of things he has done some things that do not speak to the rules which have been articulated to us and were implemented by the PLP when they were last in office.

“He should be able to articulate which rules he is enforcing at any given time, he has done poorly with that.

“Even when he suspended the House on Monday morning, and the House never suspends without a definitive time line, in the heat of the confrontation he just suspended and didn’t say when we would resume. No one left their seats because no one knew when we would resume.

“To this date it leaves a very bad impression of his leadership in the House of Assembly.”

Mrs Butler-Turner believes that the government is attempting to delay its response to pressing issues for which Bahamians have long called for clarification. They include multi-millionaire Peter Nygard and his involvement with the movement of the Stem Cell Bill along with his financial contributions to the PLP’s election campaign.

However, Dr Major denied any bias in the House of Assembly. He said records will reflect that even government MP’s, despite initially resisting his orders, have been required to withdraw their statements.

“That’s unfortunate that she has taken that posture. My actions and rulings have been liberal in dealing with both sides.

“Since I have been the Speaker, there was no member who has declined from withdrawing a comment or statement that was indicated as offensive. Members on the government side have grumbled and they have also been asked to withdraw.

“So I categorically deny it,” Dr Major said.