Eight Opposition Members of Parliament including Chief Whip Christopher Jones have been referred to the National Assembly’s Committee of Privileges over the 29th December protests that erupted in the House over the Natural Resource Fund Bill.

It was during that protest that the Assembly’s mace was snatched from its position by an Opposition MP amidst the loud protests.

In presenting the motion to refer the Opposition Members to the Privileges Committee, Government Chief Whip and Minister of Governance Gail Teixeira reflected on the protests and chaos that erupted in the National Assembly on the night of December 29.

She said it all took place before the media and on the live video stream, so the events were witnessed by a local and international audience.

The eight Opposition members being referred to the Privileges Committee are Chief Whip Christopher Jones, Ganesh Mahipaul, Sherod Duncan, Maureen Philadelphia, Vinceroy Jordan, Natasha Singh-Lewis, Tabitha Sarabo-Halley, and Annette Ferguson.

“Members of the APNU+AFC Coalition conducted themselves in a grossly and disorderly and disrespectful manner and in particular repeatedly disregarded and disrespected the authority of the Assembly and Speaker, thereby committing contempt and breaches of privilege”, Teixeira said.

She named Opposition MPs Annette Ferguson and Vinceroy Jordan for an additional referral over the snatching of the Assembly mace and its removal from the Assembly. Opposition MP Tabitha Sarabo-Hally was also cited by Teixeira for reportedly entering one of the technical rooms at the Arthur Chung Convention Centre where the National Assembly sits and attempting to remove cables and internet connections.

According to the Government Member of Parliament, by their actions, the Opposition Members were attempting to prevent the reading of the Natural Resource Fund Bill.

“The House is reminded that the rules of Order, Standing Order (47:1-10) sets out the authority of the Speaker in dealing with gross and grave disorder in the National Assembly”, she added.

The Speaker in response said the motion was properly placed and the eight Opposition Members have therefore been referred to the Committee of Privileges.

Teixeira is hoping that the Privileges Committee could wrap up its probe and make a report to the Assembly within one month.

The Committee of Privileges is made up of four Government Members, four Opposition Members and is chaired by the Speaker.

The Opposition has also filed a motion of its own against Government Members over the same controversial sitting, requesting that 23 Government MPs be referred to the same Committee of Privileges.

The Speaker said when the Assembly received the Opposition’s Motion, it appeared to have been sent in the form of a press release. He said it was brought to the attention of the Opposition Chief Whip and later resubmitted. Speaker Manzoor Nadir explained that since then he has not had time to study the motion and its contents but intends to do so in an expeditious manner.

Opposition Chief Whip Christopher Jones told the Speaker that the motion and the press release were sent in two separate emails and he has the evidence in his email to support that contention. The Speaker said that Jones should take that up with the Parliamentary staff as he moved on to the rest of the Assembly’s business.

The Opposition MPs have also filed a motion of no-confidence in the same Speaker Manzoor Nadir, accusing him of clear bias in the Assembly. The Speaker said that motion against him was properly filed and will therefore go through the stages to be presented to the House.

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