‘We will not be bullied’: Golding clarifies events leading to parliamentary uproar

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Opposition Leader Mark Golding has provided an account of the events that led to Tuesday’s parliamentary uproar, explaining that the Opposition’s protest was triggered by what he described as the Government’s abuse of parliamentary procedures to shut down debate on a censure motion concerning Jamaica’s position on Cuba. Golding said the confrontation followed the Government’s decision to bring the debate to an early close without allowing the Opposition an opportunity to contribute to the motion it had tabled. Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Anthony Hylton opened the debate before Leader of Government Business Floyd Green responded. However, Golding said Speaker Juliet Holness subsequently allowed the Government to move to end the debate without giving him or other Opposition members an opportunity to speak. “Anthony Hylton MP opened the debate on our censure motion in regard to the Government's deception in the House the week before on the matter of Cuba. Minister Floyd Green then responded in the censure motion debate. The speaker, however, allowed a blatant abuse of power by the Government, letting them move a motion to bring an early close to that debate without letting me or anyone else on our side speak on our own motion,” Golding said in a video posted to his social media on Wednesday. He questioned the fairness of the decision, noting that Opposition members were also prevented from challenging the move after their microphones were switched off. “Mek that make sense? We weren't allowed to speak on the motion that we had brought. Then we were prevented by the speaker from questioning that decision to bring it to an early close as she shut off our mics. We have a right to speak and we all stood up in protest,” he said. Golding also explained the circumstances surrounding his exchange with the speaker, saying he had to raise his voice to be heard because his microphone was off and there was considerable noise in the chamber. “So I raised my voice to make the point to the speaker that she has a duty under the standing orders to take into account the interests of the minority in this situation. I had to speak loudly to be heard because the speaker wouldn't turn on my mic and there was a lot of noise in the room. I didn't say anything rude or use any inappropriate language in making that point,” he said. He said Opposition members maintained their protest rather than allow the sitting to continue without being given an opportunity to speak, prompting the speaker to adjourn the House. “We will not be bullied,” Golding said. Tensions escalated further after the formal proceedings had ended, with a confrontation between Manchester North Western MP Mikael Phillips and Government MP Desmond McKenzie, which was captured on video. In condemning the conduct of Opposition MPs, Deputy Leader of Government Business Robert Nesta Morgan said McKenzie intervened to urge Phillips to show respect towards the speaker, prompting Phillips to respond with a series of expletives before advancing aggressively towards him. Morgan said Phillips had to be restrained by several members of the House. READ: WATCH: House in turmoil over Cuba censure motion In an additional release, the Opposition sought to outline its objections to the handling of the censure motion, accusing the Government of manipulating the House's Standing Orders to avoid accountability over Jamaica's abstention from a United Nations resolution calling for an end to the United States embargo against Cuba. The Opposition said it had expected the motion, tabled by Hylton on Tuesday, to be debated at the next sitting, as Standing Orders prohibit debate on a motion on the same day it is tabled. However, it said Green moved to suspend the Standing Orders and proceed immediately to which Opposition MP Phillip Paulwell objected, citing the procedural breach and the absence of the prime minister during debate on a censure motion against the Government. According to the Opposition, the speaker ruled that the Standing Orders, including the notice requirement, be suspended, allowing Hylton to open the debate, followed by Green. The Opposition said that when its members prepared to contribute, Green moved to close the debate without further contributions. It objected, citing Standing Order 38(2), which bars the early closure of a debate where doing so would oppress the minority. Golding then called for a division, which the speaker acknowledged, but no vote was taken amid the disorder in the chamber. The sitting was subsequently adjourned, leaving the censure motion unfinished. Golding said the Government could not be allowed to use parliamentary procedures to prevent scrutiny of an issue of national importance. “The censure motion stands, and every Opposition voice must be given the opportunity to be heard,” he said. Hylton also accused the Government of seeking to avoid accountability, saying: “The Government misled the House on Cuba. It then tried to bury the consequences. We will not rest until accountability is delivered.” The Opposition maintained that the dispute goes beyond parliamentary procedure, arguing that it concerns democratic accountability and the public's right to know about decisions affecting Jamaica's international standing and reputation. It further contended that the Government's handling of the Cuba vote had damaged Brand Jamaica and reiterated its demand that the censure debate resume at the next sitting, with all members allowed to contribute. READ: Shift in policy