Education Minister “messed with certain people”, says Fraser
This is according to 3rd District Representative Hon. Julian Fraser, RA in an interview with this news agency on the assertion that was made in the HOA by the Minister during the budget debate on March 23, 2012.
Hon. Walwyn had pointed out that non-elected members, who were former Government Ministers, were allegedly being included to speak on programmes in a Government capacity.
“The person contributed from the Government caucus, lost the elections, and ended up on the programme...the point I am making, Madam Speaker, is that we are getting trip up and my legs are long,” Hon. Walwyn had bluntly stated.
However, when asked to comment on the issue, the 3rd District Representative in a diplomatic response said, “I don’t think I am in a position to speak intelligently on the topic...the matter that took place [in the House of Assembly] caught me by surprise. I did not know what he was talking about [at the time], but I would assure you though that you will be hearing more about that."
Hon. Fraser added, “You don’t mess with certain people, and I think he has been able to do just that – mess with certain people. You will be hearing more about that since it’s an issue and you want clarity on, you will hear more about that."
Tense moment in HOAHon. Walwyn had stated in the HOA that his very first press conference he was surprised to see “somebody speaking there who was not elected, who lost the elections” and was speaking in a Government capacity.
He also made reference to an event in the 8th District, where he alleged that a non-elected member was included to speak on a programme. According to him, it looked like some individuals don’t remember that November 7, 2011 happened, adding “They don’t have respect for the people.”
According to him, the former opposition members, which would have been the National Democratic Party now in power, never interfered because they allowed the Government to do its work.
At that point, the Former Minister for Education and Culture Hon. Andrew Fahie got up and stated that he was concerned about Minister Walwyn’s statement. “If they were on the programme, Madam Speaker, are we saying that in this country that unless you elected you cannot be on a programme to speak, even if you lost an election? Because this is the tenor in which I hear coming out, Madam Speaker, I don’t believe we reach to this point in our country. I want the Minister to clear that up for me to make sure that he is not saying that.”
To this end, Hon. Walwyn retorted, "Everywhere I turn is like I have a shadow behind of me. I had to check the itinerary before somebody sneak themselves on to it.”
The argument was then broken up by the Speaker of the House, Ingrid Scatliffe-Moses as the members begun responding to each other.
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