ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Opposition legislators Tuesday walked out of the Parliament in protest at the move by the Speaker, Leo Cato, to prevent Opposition Leader Dr. Keith Mitchell from continuing to make his contribution to the supplemental budget debate.
The issue arose during Mitchell’s presentation, during which he called on the Member for Carriacou and Petite Martinique constituency, Tevin Andrews, to apologize to teachers and other public officers for a Facebook statement he made.
Mitchell said that the government legislator had said that public officers were among people “running their mouths” even while still receiving their salaries following the passage of Hurricane Beryl on July 1.
The opposition leader suggested that Andrews apologize to public officers and teachers, as he did when Mitchell (Mitchell) said in a meeting in New York several years ago that hospital staff members were stealing chicken from the hospital kitchen.
“When I made a statement about doctors and nurses at the hospital, it was not meant for anybody personally. I should have said some workers…I apologize publicly. Mr. Speaker, I asked, therefore, that the Member for Carriacou and Petite Martinique apologize to the teachers of Carriacou and Petite Martinique for the statement that some of them can fix their homes and do other things,” Mitchell said.
But Andrews interrupted Mitchell’s presentation on a point of order and asked that the statement made by the Opposition Leader be withdrawn.
“I stand on a point of order and ask that the Leader of the Opposition withdraw that statement because I didn’t make any such statement about teachers,” Andrews said.
The Speaker then instructed Mitchell to withdraw the statement, but he refused, explaining that there were reports of the statement in the public domain about what the government legislator had said.
However, the Speaker repeatedly called for the statement to be withdrawn and, following a short recess, ruled that Mitchell’s presentation was being suspended.
But as he walked out of the Chambers, Mitchell was followed by the three opposition legislators, Peter David, Dr. Clarice Modeste, and Kate Lewis-Peters, who were present for the sitting.
The other opposition member, Emmalin Pierre, was absent from the Parliament sitting.
and then 