Opposition appalled by Speaker’s refusal to allow personal explanation
/ Our Today
administrator
The Opposition is appalled by the Speaker’s failure to acknowledge and facilitate a Personal Explanation submitted by Opposition Member of Parliament, Dr Angela Brown Burke, under Standing Order 18.
The Personal Explanation was formally submitted this morning, many hours ahead of today’s sitting of the House of Representatives, but was neither acknowledged nor allowed to be delivered. This denied the Member the opportunity to address matters of personal and public importance through the established parliamentary process of a Personal Explanation.
Instead, the Speaker proceeded to make an opening statement of her own, delivering what amounted to another biased diatribe, in keeping with the increasingly partisan way in which the Speaker has been operating in the House.
This development further heightens the deep concerns about the lack of fairness in the conduct of the Nation’s Parliament, and the inconsistent application of the Standing Orders in a manner that undermines accountability in the governance of the Nation.
The Opposition maintains that these rules exist to ensure transparency and due process in parliamentary proceedings. When they are disregarded, it diminishes confidence in the integrity of the Parliament and undermines Jamaica’s democracy.
In the interest of transparency and accountability, the Personal Explanation submitted by Dr Angela Brown Burke is being shared with the public.
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