Opposition whip did not give MPs walkout order; intends to demand answers

Opposition Chief Whip Marlene Mc Donald says she did not order the partial walkout of opposition members from the House of Representatives last Friday.

And she plans to raise the issue Monday and demand an explanation during the party's meeting of the Parliamentary caucus.

The walkout came after Speaker Wade mark used an obscure Standing Order to silence Diego Martin Central MP Dr Amery Browne, who was speaking on issues unrelated to the debate before the House.

Diego Martin North East MP Colm Imbert announced the walkout, although he remained seated in the Opposition Leader's chair. Keith Rowley was absent, as he was recuperating from surgery.

Browne led the partial walkout. He was followed by Alicia Hospedales, Patricia McIntosh, Paula Gopee-Scoon, Fitzgerald Jeffrey and Nileung Hypolite. However, McDonald, and MPs Donna Cox, Joanne Thomas and Imbert remained in their seats. The MP for San Fernando East, Patrick Manning was not in the House.

Mc Donald said Sunday while Browne may have felt justified to lead the partial walkout the MPs had a duty to remain in Parliament to represent represent the PNM, instead of giving the Government "a free hand" to rush the order paper.

Mc Donald denied a split in the Opposition ranks. However she said she would question those who walked out. “I did not give a signal to walk out. I am the leader in the House and am the only one who can give that signal,” she said. 

“If there is to be a walkout, it starts with the Chief Whip. I gave no nod or approval for that walkout. I intend to find out what transpired.”

Mc Donald explained why she stayed with some of the others. “I have a responsibility to see that the Order Paper is taken care of...If we had all walked out, the Government would have seized the opportunity to clean the Order Paper.”

She said if there was a total opposition walkout the government would have rushed through the Anti-Gang Bill 2010 that was under debate as well as pass other bills, including the Bail Bill, Evidence Bill, Summary Court Bill and changes to the Standing Orders.

“I needed to preserve the right of the Opposition in its entirety...They don’t want any debate on the Bail Bill.” Mc Donald charged. She said in its present form the Bail Bill is “unconstitutional, mischievous and oppressive”.

The Chief Whip did not offer any comment on whether the government was right or wrong in silencing her MP. “I prefer to reserve my comment on that until I have spoken to my colleague and seen the Hansard, because I know he was spoken to before,” she said.