By Robert Hart, Staff ReporterTHE OFFENDING members responsible for last week's pandemonium in the House of Representatives have apologised for their behaviour and, despite Speaker Michael Peart's firm stance that "disciplinary action is required", have escaped sanctions from their colleagues on both sides of the political divide.
At the same time, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, who has just returned from Nigeria, chided the members of the House for the 'Sunday school' atmosphere that was sparked by Minister of Development Dr. Paul Robertson's December 9 walkout during discussions on his own Ministerial Statement.
STATEMENT OF APOLOGY
During yesterday's specially convened sitting, Dr. Robertson and Opposition MPs, Edmund Bartlett and Pearnel Charles, each made a statement of apology after the Speaker addressed the breakdown in decorum which prompted a sudden adjournment of last week's sitting.
"The events that led to the action of the Deputy Speaker (O.T. Williams) to adjourn those proceedings without a motion put were most unfortunate and marked a new low for the (history) of this honourable House," the Speaker said in opening yesterday's session.
He added: "On adjournment, the pandemonium that followed has done damage to this honourable House and the seizing of the Mace by Mr. Bartlett is a grave violation by all counts."
The Speaker was also critical of Dr. Robertson, stating that his premature departure from the Chamber could not be condoned "and must be dealt with."
Mr. Charles, he added, had behaved inappropriately while questioning the Development Minister after the Ministerial Statement was made on the development plans for the Highway 2000 corridor.
"Let me point out that the questions that follow a statement by a Minister must be confined to areas of the statement that need elucidation or clarification. What was happening were not questions of clarification but matters that were unrelated to the statement, and the language of Mr. Charles at times was unparliamentary," the Speaker said.
Prior to the Development Minister's walkout, Mr. Charles had suggested that the Government "sold out" the rights to any future development of the local railway system through provisions made in an agreement with the foreign operators of Highway 2000. He also accused Dr. Robertson, and the Government on a whole, of dishonesty.
In his statement of apology, Dr. Robertson was critical of the manner in which he was questioned by the Opposition member, stating that he takes "personal exception to any member ...who deliberately and wilfully casts aspersions against the integrity, good name and character of any member," including himself.
He still, however, "unreservedly" and "unequivocally" apologised for his "unceremonious departure."
Mr. Bartlett and Mr. Charles immediately followed suit and Dr. Peter Phillips, Leader of the House, successfully moved that the matter be put to rest.
But before the House adjourned, Mr. Patterson indicated that he felt he would be failing in his obligations as Prime Minister if he were not to comment on the occurrences that took place while he was off the island.
"No one expects this House to operate like a Sunday school class," he said.
Mr. Patterson added: "We must behave like adults... As leaders of the nation people are looking to us to lead by example and set the tone by which we deal with each other in the Government, in the society and in every nook and cranny of the island."
