Motion to censor two Opposition MPs defeated

A motion by the Government censor two members of the Opposition over statements made in a newspaper last week was defeated in the House of Assembly

  Minister of Education Roland Jones speaking on a Point of Privilege, suggested that Leader of the Opposition Mia Mottley and Member of Parliament for St James East Central Kerrie Simmons be brought before the Committee of Privileges over statements they made in a mid-week newspaper  questioning a ruling made by Speaker of the House Michael Carrington. 

 Speaker Carrington said the matter had been brought to his attention and he was “surprised” when he read the story.

“When things like these happen, they cause you to stand up and take note” Carrington said “A cursory glance at the article, for instance, would suggest that I, as Speaker, was engaged in some plot to conspire with the Government to create a circus of distraction from the people’s real problems in this country", Carrington added.

The Speaker quoted the words attributed to the two MPs saying the fact that neither had issued a disclaimer was a greater cause for concern.

Carrington defended his position saying:"I have put into the five years that I have been in this chair an effort to learn the rules and to rule impartially and I will continued to do that".

The motion was defeated by ten votes to nine.