Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 23, 2017 (SKNIS): Member of Parliament (MP) for St. Christopher three on the Opposition Benches, the Honourable Konris Maynard, became the third causality to be ejected from Parliament for gross disrespectful behaviour to Speaker of the House, the Honourable Michael Perkins, on May 23, following in the footsteps of the Leader of the Opposition, the Honourable Dr. Denzil Douglas, and Opposition Senator, the Honourable Nigel Carty.
In what seems to be a clear pattern of disrespect to the Chair, and concerted, calculated efforts to create disorder in the House, according to Speaker Perkins, Senator Carty was booted twice out of Parliament in recent times, the first being on December 08, 2016, when according to the Speaker the senator mockingly laughed at his ruling, and again on April 28, 2017, for gross disorder to the Chair—then followed the Leader of the Opposition’s eviction from the law-making body on January 20, 2017, the first Sitting of the Parliament for this year. Dr. Douglas continually interrupted Speaker Perkins, shouting at him in a loud voice while he was on his feet ruling on the Motion of No confidence filed against him by the Leader of the Opposition and announced at the Sitting of Parliament in December 2016.
The Honourable Konris Maynard, the third in a line of ejected opposition members, constantly defied the Speaker’s ruling, drawing his ire, which resulted in the MP being dismissed from the House for the rest of the day’s sitting.
“I would not allow a point of order at this time,” Speaker Perkins said to MP Maynard, who continued to challenge the ruling of the Speaker, whilst remaining on his feet. “Honourable member for number 3, if you choose to rise again once I’ve asked the honourable member (Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris) to continue, I will act accordingly under the powers of the rules of the House.”
However, MP Maynard continued in defiance of the Speaker’s ruling.
“Honourable member for number 3, you are on your feet; you are distracting the proceedings from continuing in a manner in which I would want it to continue. Kindly resume your seat,” said Speaker Perkins, to which MP Maynard responded “Mr. Speaker, you don’t know what I’m going to say”, while he refused to take his seat.
“Honourable member, I find you to be grossly disorderly and you are continuing to do so. I am asking you to take leave from this House immediately for the rest of today’s sitting. I am applying Section 49 (2),” said Speaker Perkins.
The Leader of the Opposition upon the Speaker’s ruling to eject MP Maynard commanded his colleagues to stage a walk out of Parliament, this being the second time he has done so in recent months.
