Heated exchange in House as Brown Burke demanded to be heard by Holness

There was a testy exchange in the House of Representatives today after St Andrew South West Member of Parliament Dr Angela Brown Burke demanded to be allowed to speak.

The situation unfolded after she pointed out that House Speaker Juliet Holness was not properly seated for a meeting of the Standing Finance Committee of Parliament to discuss the Third Supplementary Estimates.

Brown Burke was addressing Holness, who remained in the Speaker’s chair despite the House having moved to a sitting of the Standing Finance Committee.

During such a sitting, the chairman is required to vacate the Speaker’s chair and relocate to the lower chair occupied by the Clerk to the House.

Brown Burke is said to have pointed out the discrepancy, arguing that the Speaker should adhere to the rules of the House.

St Catherine South West MP Everald Warmington, who is a stickler for Standing Orders, rose and went to the Speaker’s chair and spoke with Holness.

She subsequently relocated to the lower seat.

Holness attempted to proceed with the agenda, but Brown Burke,whose mic was muted, sought to speak and get the attention of the Speaker.

However, Brown Burke was not acknowledged by Holness, which saw the MP getting out of her seat and standing in the middle of the walkway of the House. She addressed the Speaker directly, insisting that she should be heard and chastising Holness.

This drew remarks and jeers from the government bench, to which Brown Burke retorted, “come tek me out,” after a member of the House threatened to throw her out.

“Brown Burke attempted to defend herself, repeatedly seeking the Speaker's acknowledgement to speak, but was rebuffed. The Speaker refused to acknowledge her and proceeded with the agenda. The situation escalated with Brown Burke standing up to be heard…” said a source currently in the House.

The sitting of the committee is still under way.

Brown Burke insisted that she had a right to be heard.

- Erica Virtue

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