PRIME MINISTER Portia Simpson Miller's first contribution to the Budget Debate in Parliament yesterday was not without incident, as the House descended into a stormy exchange following her pronouncement that the Opposition had come with a plan to heckle her during her presentation.
"May I request, Mr. Speaker, of my side ... a decision was taken that today (yesterday) I should be heckled. Will you allow it to take place without your participation?" she asked.
ALLEGATION DISMISSED
The Prime Minister's remarks drew the ire of Leader of Government Business in the House, Derrick Smith, who rose to dismiss the allegation.
It took swift intervention by acting Speaker of the House O.T. Williams to quell the uproar which followed as members engaged in a heated quarrel.
After several attempts, Mr. Williams was successful in soothing a visibly upset Mr. Smith, who demanded an apology from the Prime Minister.
The acting Speaker, who said he did not hear the Prime Minister's statement because of the uproar, called on Hansard, the official record keepers of Parliament, to produce the written remarks of Mrs. Simpson Miller.
However, at the end of the sitting nothing was further said on the matter.
