'I will not allow the Speaker to silence me' – Opposition Leader
At Monday’s June 3, 2019, Fourth Sitting of the First Session of the Fourth HoA, Speaker Willock moved to shut down arguments between Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) and the Opposition Leader over the ongoing immigration reform debacle in the territory and now, according to Hon Penn, the scenario is one where the Speaker is trying to silence the Opposition.
Standing for Rights – Hon Penn
“I was standing up for my rights, you have a situation where a Speaker continues to pick on the Opposition and allow the Government members to run wild and run loose in the House of Assembly,” Hon Penn told the media during a brief interview yesterday, June 5, 2019.
According to Hon Penn, “I asked Hon Vincent Wheatley a question specific to a subject that he is responsible for, the Premier got up without raising a Point of Order, intervened back and forth and the Speaker wanted to silence me for responding to the Premier.”
“He said nothing to the Premier, the question was posed to Hon Vincent Wheatley. I will not allow the speaker to silence me because I am here representing the people of this territory,” Mr Penn said with visible frustration.
In a back and forth with the Premier, the Opposition Leader had sought to respond some claims Hon Fahie had made in the House, to which the Speaker silenced him, “Leader of the opposition, I am to be heard in silence,” Hon Willock said firmly.
Hon Penn, in lashing back said, “You going have to kick me out today, you are not speaking to a child”.
Speaker Willock then called a 5-minute recess and when the session resumed, Hon Willock said: “Leader of the Opposition I am going to give you a warning. Any further infraction will result in action being taken by the Speaker against you.”
I represent the People – Hon Penn
Further Mr Penn in his media statement said, “The Eighth District has sent me to the House of Assembly for a Third consecutive term to represent their interests and the interest of this territory, I am now the leader of the Opposition and I have a responsibility to the wider territory.”
“I will continue to be respectful in the Honourable house because… the House requires my respect and I’ve always been a respecting member in the Honourable House. I respect the Standing Orders and the Speaker needs to learn the Standing Orders and follow the Standing Orders as well and be respectful of the Standing Orders,” Mr Penn told the media.
Both Speaker Willock and Premier Fahie did not immediately respond to request for comments.
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14 Responses to “'I will not allow the Speaker to silence me' – Opposition Leader ”
My my... where was your VOICE when M**** ***** did her great share of BIAS! If you were so just, even when you were the Government YOU would have spoken up about such practices and behaviors!! And THEN AND ONLY THEN WOULD YoU SIR COME ACROSS GENUINE!!!!!!!!! Your argument was weak.... better luck NEXT tIME!
Oh my! Not nice at all.
When hurricane voters remove the NDP from office,all NDP supporters were hurt by lost of power,and lost of control over the people of the VI.
When marlon was in office as a NDP powerman,he was very silent.
So,Marlon is hurt..let his hurting voice be heard..
The speaker will reprimand him,according to l;aw..
Marlon you need to shut the hell up when we wanted you to speak you did not voiced represent us now the show on the other feet hurting you shouting shut your @$%. We needed that Immigration issues sorted a very long time. As a matter of fact asked Orlando what he signed in UK make Hon Fahie did what he did? Okay