The House of Assembly was like a “war” zone as former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham found himself at the centre of several savage rows with government members yesterday.
Mr. Ingraham also had words with both the speaker and deputy speaker who asked him to withdraw certain statements, Mr. Ingraham refused and enjoined the deputy to “do what you have to do”.
The comments regarded the pensions paid to former prime ministers.
Earlier Mr. Ingraham was involved in “bust-ups” with Mount Moriah MP Keod Smith and Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell.
At one point Mr. Ingraham made scathing reference to the rape accusations levelled against Works Minister Bradley Roberts earlier this year and at another interval marvelled at the level of ignorance possessed by the Cabinet.
A heated exchange between Mr. Ingraham and House speaker Oswald Ingraham resulted in the speaker leaving the chamber.
In making his comments, Mr. Ingraham was interrupted by Mount Moriah MP and Environmental Ambassador Keod Smith at least seven or eight times.
Editor’s Note: Mr. Smith is the same obnoxious loudmouth who continuously interrupted MP Whitney Bastian the other day. Then, like yesterday, House Speaker Oswald Ingraham refused to do his job and order Mr. Smith to refrain from his disruptive behaviour.
When the speaker refused to silence Mr. Smith, Mr. Ingraham flared up at the speaker reminding him that it was his job to protect him and allow him to state his case.
He accused the speaker of not doing his job. Members of the government side got into the fray, verbally gang-banging the former Prime Minister, who stood his ground.
When he was asked to apologize to the speaker, Mr. Ingraham refused, saying that he stood by every word he said. At that point, Speaker Ingraham left the chamber and the deputy speaker Anthony Moss took the chair.
Tempers flared again as members dealt with issues related to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At one point Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell told Montagu MP Brent Symonette that he was not sure of the details of a line item regarding the expansion of the overseas budget.
However, Mr. Ingraham rose on a point of order and claimed that it was unbelievable that a minister of the government would not be aware of funds which he would have approved in his Ministry’s budget.
Mitchell responded, saying the line item was technical in nature and that he preferred to consult with his staff seated in the gallery rather than make an estimate or “guestimate”.
Mr. Ingraham would not accept that excuse and accused Mr. Mitchell of not being aware of what was going on in his ministry. He said the question was straightforward and basic.
A shouting match then ensued, with Mr. Mitchell calling Mr. Ingraham names. Ingraham responded by suggesting that Mr. Mitchell doesn’t know what’s going on in his ministry because he is always off the island involved with other people’s concerns.
Both men accused the other of having an agenda and Mr. Ingraham told Mr. Mitchell, “You will never be the Prime MInister.”
Excerpted from an article written by Cara Brennen, The Tribune
