By Jonathan Walter
The rampaging bias of Speaker of the Antigua and Barbuda Parliament Gerald Watt against Asot Michael in particular and members of the Opposition in general, is an existential threat to parliamentary democracy that requires urgent national attention.
His conduct in presiding over proceedings of the House makes it increasingly clear that he has absolutely no interest in honouring the Constitutional responsibility to serve without fear or favour; affection or ill-will.
The sole interest of this hate-filled and enraged octogenarian is in using the authority of the Speaker as a weapon of discrimination and oppression against Members who do not support Gaston Browne.
On May 18th, 2023 he was at it again, savagely breaching the constitutional rights of St Peter MP Asot Michael to fairness and natural justice with an unlawful suspension from the Parliament.
What does Watt intend to achieve with this outrageous, unparliamentary behavior? He has to go… he is damaging the integrity of parliamentary conduct and procedure in this country… I am sick and tired of seeing duly elected representatives of the people victimized in the course of carrying out their parliamentary duties by an angry, spiteful Speaker grinding axes for his political preferences. And it is time for the people who elect representatives to parliament to do something about it.
Rule 43 (3) of the Standing Orders of the House provide that “It shall be out of order to use offensive and insulting language about Members of the House or to threaten a Member.
The Prime Minister and the Attorney General repeatedly breached rule 43 (3) in highly offensive references to MP Michael that imputed improper motives, accused him of dishonorable behavior and threatened him with hardship, suffering and pain.
Speaker Watt allowed these flagrant breaches of the Standing Orders and the vile, savagery of the sustained attack on the duly elected Member for St Peter.
When Asot Michael decided it was time to draw the Speaker’s attention to the injustices unrelentingly directed at him, Watt responded with the trademark hostility of a bully and abused the authority of his office to shut down the victim and dismiss him from the House.
I fully expect that MP Michael will take legal action against the Speaker for serious violation of his constitutionally protected right to fairness, due process and the protection of law.
Enough is now too much.
By the way, it was not Asot Michael who said “to hell with the Constitution”. It was the sitting Attorney General in the PLM administration of George Walter between 1971 and 1976 who repeatedly sent our supreme law to hell while terrorizing police officers and citizens alike.
Editor’s Note: The views expressed by the writer aren’t necessarily those of Antigua Breaking News.
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2 responses to “OPINION: Speaker Watt is a growing threat to Parliamentary Democracy”
Oh yes , time enough for the Speaker of the house to go.Itz now become damn disgusting and one sided in Parliament.Sometimez I wonder if the Speaker is okay.Sometimes age and stress does take control of human .My question is how long, how long Lord Jesus before we can sing the Glad song.A tiguans pls keep on praying better days must come in this Country.St. Peters people get up and support your Parliamentary Representative.Hit the street by Pickett or by marching.Micheal was sent to Parliament by you all.Show some people power
Enough bull shit is just enough bull shit.
The author has eloquently penned it. The Speaker, Gaston Browne and the entire ALP is a reproach to Antigua.
The Speaker is an affront to democracy, he is corrupt to the core, physically and mentally.
I am an UPP supporter, but I was appalled that UPP joined with the Speaker and ALP to victimised Asot.
I sincerely hope Asot will take legal action against the Speaker and his constituents who elected him to speak on their behalf will exercise their democratic rights and protest outside Parliament.
It’s time that decent Antiguans rise up and take affirmative against ALP. The time is now for Antiguans to rise up and stopped being oppressed people, people, let’s do the right thing.