Fitz-Henley rejects suggestion that both sides were equally responsible for fracas in Parliament

Government Senator Abka Fitz-Henley has rejected suggestions that both sides were equally responsible for Tuesday's confrontation in Parliament, insisting that the conduct of Opposition members contributed to the disorder.

Fitz-Henley, who is also State Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister and chairman of the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) Communication Taskforce, said parliamentarians must be mindful of the example they set, particularly for children observing parliamentary proceedings.

“All parliamentarians are to be cognisant of the impact that our conduct can have on the people who are watching, particularly our children,” Fitz-Henley said.

However, he argued that a fair probe of the incident would point to the real culprits.

“I think a fair analysis will lead the reasonable Jamaican to conclude that it was the Opposition which was aggressive in their posture and demeanour, a member cursing expletives, aggressively moving in the direction of a senior member of Government,” he said.

Fitz-Henley also criticised what he described as an encroachment on the parliamentary aisle while a member was leaving the chamber, arguing that such conduct breached the decorum expected in the House.

“That is sacrilegious; you don't encroach upon the aisle when the presiding officer is either entering or leaving the House of Parliament,” he said.

The confrontation involved Kingston Western Member of Parliament Desmond McKenzie and Manchester North Western MP Mikael Phillips, with video footage of the incident circulating widely on social media.

The incident followed a contentious sitting during which the Government moved to end debate on an Opposition censure motion over Jamaica's decision to abstain from a United Nations resolution calling for an end to the United States embargo against Cuba.

Following the adjournment, an exchange between Phillips and McKenzie escalated, prompting the intervention of other parliamentarians.

Phillips subsequently apologised for using expletives during the exchange, while alleging that McKenzie had made offensive remarks about his deceased mother.

McKenzie, speaking at a press conference on Friday, rejected calls for an apology, insisting that he had done nothing wrong and had not breached the House's Standing Orders.

“I did absolutely nothing. If you saw the video, I stood in my seat, which was the required posture. The Speaker was exiting the chamber and I was in my seat. I did not violate the Standing Orders of Parliament,” he said.

The incident has prompted renewed calls for accountability and greater adherence to parliamentary standards by elected representatives.

- Corey Robinson

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