UPP agrees that MP Michael was out of line, but says ‘suspension’ did not follow procedures and he was provoked

While condemning the suspension of MP Asot Michael from the Lower House of Parliament, the United Progressive Party (UPP) says the action is really of no effect, since the procedures outlined in the Standing Orders were not followed.

The Party notes that the Speaker could not move the motion; and, therefore, everything that transpired in the rushed procedure is of no effect.

Last Thursday, May 18, the Government MPs voted to suspend Michael at the behest of House Speaker Sir Gerald Watt, K.C., and the St. Peter representative, ostensibly, has been suspended for the next three sittings.

The Party leadership says the provocative behaviour of two senior Government MPs – Prime Minister Gaston Browne and Attorney-General Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin – and the clear bias of the Speaker all precipitated Michael’s ejection and “fictional” suspension.

According to the Party, the breaches of the Standing Orders –unparliamentary language; threats and intimidation by both the prime minister and the attorney general; and imputing improper motives – were ignored or overlooked by Sir Gerald.  

This created an environment that was, “at best, hostile to MP Michael and, at worst, a naked abuse of power,” the Party’s leadership says.

Many residents already know there is political animosity between the prime minister and the St. Peter representative. However, the UPP does not believe it should be played out in the Lower House –

especially when members of the Government Bench continue to appeal for maturity in the conduct of the people’s business.

According to the Party, “It is noteworthy that, during the Division called for on the Motion to acquire the Cancer Centre, MP Michael voted with the Government.

“Unfortunately,” the Party says, “Prime Minister Browne, in particular, could not elevate his behaviour and – in spite of the Speaker’s earlier caution – persisted in his distasteful conduct.”

Therefore, the UPP says it is unfortunate and unfair that Sir Gerald then chose to victimize the elected member of the House for his “human response to gross provocation.”

The UPP leadership says it does not condone the remarks made by MP Michael since, clearly, it cannot support blatant disrespect of the Speaker of the House.  However, it says, it recognizes that the Member had been unreasonably pushed to the limit of his tolerance.

The UPP, as a result, is distancing itself from what it terms “this unfortunate episode in the history of our Parliament.”