At the commencement of the Anguilla House of Assembly on Wednesday, February 15, the Speaker, Hon. Barbara Webster-Bourne, read the following statement (transcribed from tape by The Anguillian).
“To borrow a quotation from our Honourable Attorney General and I quote: It is always unfortunate when differences of opinions are not addressed initially by direct communication. End of quote.
“Therefore, before I go any further, I want to address an issue on which I want to clearly state that I will not entertain any debate. My Deputy Speaker of our House of Assembly [Leroy Rogers] took the liberty to go on public broadcasting media with respect to the last sitting of the Anguilla House of Assembly that took place on January 16th, 2012 in which the Vehicles and Road Traffic Amendment Bill 2011 was debated in its second and third readings of which he said I had no right to an opinion.
“To me I am putting it that I exercised my constitutional right, my duty and my obligation to this Honourable House and by extension to the people of Anguilla in sharing an opinion to the amendment based on the current Legislative Assembly Procedure Rules 1976 section 55 (2a) and section 55 (2g). In addition thereto the Anguilla Constitution Order 1982 section 53 (2) that give me the Speaker of this Honourable House the authority to direct, to participate and to refuse or accept such amendments as put forth.
“So says the Legislative Assembly Procedure Rules 1976. So says the Anguilla Constitution Order 1982. I DO HAVE THE RIGHT.
“Honourable Deputy Speaker, given the experiences that you caused in this Honourable House, my office takes the view that such behaviour was unwarranted, misguided, divisive, inappropriate and totally, totally unacceptable.
And therefore I believe that it is incumbent upon me to lend yourself a better representation of me as Speaker in this high office that we, you and I, both represent.This office is neutral and non political.
I urge members of this Honourable House to continue to acquaint yourself with the Legislative Assembly Rules and theAnguilla“Constitution Order that guide us in this Honourable House in the interest of giving the best representation to the Anguillian public.
“My office doors are wide open to you if you wish to advise, to direct on any matter.
“In conclusion, I wish to state that I will vehemently oppose any effort to undermine this office and the expressed views of this Honourable House so long as I am Speaker and I wish to further state that I reserve my position/action if there is any reoccurrence.
“Thank you Attorney General”
Following is the consequent dialogue:
Mr. Leroy Rogers: “Madam Speaker, I have a right to respond.”
Speaker: “I will entertain no discussion or debate on this is matter. Thank you, sir.”
Mr. Rogers:“I have the right to respond.”
Speaker: “Madam Clerk you may continue.
Mr. Rogers: “This is a democratic Parliament and if you are accusing me I have a right to respond. I did not go…to RadioAnguillacalled me…(rest inaudible).”
Speaker: “Please member, please take your seat. Member, please take your seat.”
Mr. Rogers: “I will deal with it another way.”
Speaker: “Thank you member.”
The background to this matter is as follows: The Speaker’s statement is a response to a news item aired on Radio Anguilla on Friday, 20th January, when two former Speakers of the Anguilla House of Assembly, said the present Speaker, the Hon. Mrs. Barbara Webster-Bourne, was wrong for giving her opinion on a Bill during a sitting of the House of Assembly on Monday, 16th January, 2012.
During that sitting, the Speaker agreed with the Elected Member forEast End, the Hon. Jerome Roberts,that one of the offences included in the amendment to the Vehicles and Road Traffic Act should be deleted.
When interviewed by Radio Anguilla on that matter, Mr. Rogers said that a Speaker should never give his or her opinion on any Bill in the House. In that interview,Rogerssaid the Speaker is there to convene the meeting and therefore should remain neutral and never take sides.
