Parliament was filled with verbal chaos, confusion and many disruptions on Thursday over the Leader of the Opposition's motion to remove the President over the police commissioner/Police Service Commission crisis, under Section 36 of the Constitution.
It began during the extraordinary sitting of the House of Representatives where government MPs sat in silence while Opposition MPs challenged the Speaker, Bridgid Annisette-George, after she rejected claims from by UNC leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar that it was wrong for no debate to be allowed.
Several Opposition MPs interrupted and began to speak over Annisette-George, saying such a decision was a war on democracy.
Charging that their microphones were beng deliberately muted, MPs began shouting across the Parliament while thumping their desks.
This occurred throughout the sitting, then continued when the Electoral College – which comprises all members of the House of Representatives and the Senate – met.
In the end, the motion was defeated, with 24 votes for and 47 against. No one abstained from the vote.
[caption id="attachment_920231" align="alignnone" width="798"] The Electoral College rejected a motion filed by Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar to investigate the removal of President Paula-Mae Weekes from office. Photo courtesy Parliament[/caption]
The scenes in the House caused quite a stir among the viewing and listening public, with some politicians taking to social media to express their views.
Mickela Panday, Patriotic Front leader and daughter of UNC founder and former prime minister Basdeo Panday, took to Twitter, saying, "Maybe there should be an entry-level exam on the roles and responsibilities of Parliamentarians, parliamentary procedure and the Standing Orders. It might raise the standard in our Parliament.
Maybe there should be an entry-level exam on the Roles and Responsibilities of Parliamentarians, Parliamentary Procedure and the Standing Orders. It might raise the standard in our Parliament.
— Mickela (@mickelapanday) October 21, 2021
"Our Parliament has been reduced to a fish market with members jostling for five minutes of infamy. Is this the example our representatives want to set for our youth looking on?"
Our Parliament has been reduced to a fish market with members jostling for 5 mins of infamy. Is this the example our representatives want to set for our youth looking on?
— Mickela (@mickelapanday) October 21, 2021
Leader of the Movement for Social Justice (MSJ) David Abdulah said, "Does the UNC understand what they are doing? Their actions are seeking to dangerously divide the country. It is not about democracy. They are laying the basis for justifying why their motion will not succeed.
"This is a serious issue but I am reminded of Explainer's Calypso – In Parliament they kicksin. The motion will be defeated
