Montague

JUST SEVEN months into his career as Member of Parliament (MP) Robert Montague has been reined in by Prime Minister Bruce Golding for a second time.

Yesterday, Montague, a state minister who works out of the Prime Minister's Office, was told by Golding to retract unparliamentary language he had used in reference to Opposition Member Roger Clarke on Tuesday night.

Clarke, who is the opposition spokesman on agriculture, was verbally toppled by Montague who called him dishonest.

The towering Clarke, who was feeding questions to Agriculture Minister Christopher Tufton on proposed spending in the sector this fiscal year, found himself on the defensive after Montague and his colleague, James Robertson, seemed insistent on taking over the proceedings.

It all began when South West Clarendon MP Noel Arscott asked Tufton about plans to deal with praedial larceny. Tufton replied that a receipt-book system implemented by Clarke, when he was minister, had failed. Clarke proceeded to explain why it had failed but, then, chaos reigned.

"You are dishonest! ... dishonest ... You told the country it could work and you knew it could not. You are dishonest!" Montague shouted at Clarke.

Robertson joined in calling Clarke "disingenuous", while Speaker Delroy Chuck waved his gavel and was more of a spectator. Clarke could take it no more.

Clarke responds

"Who is dishonest? Who you calling dishonest? Don't do that! Don't do that! Don't do that! You don't call me dishonest!"

When the standing finance committee reconvened yesterday, Chuck called on Montague to apologise.

"No member will be allowed to disrespect any member in the House," Chuck said.

He added that if any member continues to breach the Standing Orders he may have to take serious action, including suspending the offender.

Montague refused to apologise. He said that he represents his Western St Mary constituency with "enthusiasm" and that his position on the programme had not changed.

Prime Minister Golding then intervened and Montague withdrew his "dishonest" statement.

In December, the Prime Minister asked Montague to apologise for telling constituents of the Fellowship Division in Portland that their roads would not be repaired if they voted for the People's National Party candidate in the December 2007 local Government elections.

On Tuesday, Clarke seemed to be enjoying examining the estimates with the minister until the rabble-rousers forced him to shut his book and squeeze through a tight corridor out of the chambers. His Eastern Westmoreland colleague Luther Buchanan soon followed.

Buchanan seemed itching to leave the Chamber as he had earlier taken offence to a statement from Dr St Aubyn Bartlett, who had said "mi horse dem better dan you over there". Bartlett was responding to a PNP member who called him a horse doctor. Bartlett is a veterinarian.

Meanwhile, after Clarke tucked his big book under his arm and left the chamber in a huff, because of Montague's onslaught, South St James MP Derrick Kellier appealed to Chuck to ensure order. Dr Peter Phillips, the leader of opposition business, also threatened to boycott the examinations if verbal personal attacks were allowed.