Incensed by the boisterous behaviour of persons at the first reading of the Banking Bill 2015 in the Anguilla House of Assembly, moved by the Chief Minister and Minister of Finance, Mr. Victor Banks, on Monday, November 9, the Speaker, Mr. Leroy Rogers, issued an order shortly afterwards restricting public access at the November 16 meeting.
The altercation erupted as the Chief Minister called for the introduction of the Bill which gives the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank wider powers over the control of commercial banks in Anguilla (and the other member territories) and related matters. The gallery of the House was crowded by protesters encouraged to demonstrate against the Bill by the Concerned Citizens Group and other persons.
The Speaker’s Order was as follows:
ORDER ISSUED BY THE SPEAKER
TO REGULATE ADMITTANCE
TO THE CHAMBER AND OFFICES OF THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY DURING THE SEVENTH MEETING OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE ELEVENTH ANGUILLA HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY ON 16 NOVEMBER 2015
1. Pursuant to section 5 of the House of Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Act, Revised Statues of Anguilla Chapter H15 the Speaker has issued the following order for the admittance of persons, other than members and officers of the House of Assembly, to the Chamber, and precincts including offices of the House of Assembly.
The order is made for the Seventh Meeting of the First Session of the Eleventh Anguilla House of Assembly to take place on Monday 16 November 2015.
a) No person other than members and officers of the House of Assembly shall enter the Chamber or offices of the House of Assembly, unless they are authorised to do so by the Speaker.
b) No person other than members and officers of the House of Assembly shall enter within an area of the precincts of the House of Assembly that has been cordoned off by the police; or to an area within the precincts of the House of Assembly, where entry to that area has been otherwise prohibited by the police; unless they authorised to do so by the Speaker.
2. In respect of the principles of openness and transparency in the conduct of the business of the House of Assembly, arrangements have been made for persons within the permitted areas of the precincts of the Assembly or outside to view the proceedings via video link. These arrangements are in addition to the regular broadcast of the proceedings of the House of Assembly that are aired on Radio Anguilla, 95.5 FM; and Caribbean Cable Communications, Cable TV Channel143.
3. This order is summarised as follows:
a) The general public will not be allowed entry into the Chamber, offices and certain areas of the grounds of the House of Assembly, for the meeting of the House of Assembly on Monday 16 November, 2015.
b) An opportunity will be provided for the public to view the proceedings of the House via video link on the grounds of the House of Assembly; in addition, persons can listen to the proceedings via Radio Anguilla or view them on Cable TV Channel 143.
4. Person{s) who disobey this order by the Speaker may render themselves liable to arrest by the Royal Anguilla Police Force.
In an effort not to further inflame public resentment, and to ensure democracy, Chief Minister Banks hurriedly went on radio stating that he had requested the Speaker to reconsider his decision. He stressed, however, that persons attending the House of Assembly proceedings were expected to conduct themselves in a civil and respectful manner.
“We believe that this should be the standard of democracy we must adopt as a people,” he emphasised. “The conduct on Monday [November 9] exhibited a noticeable and radical departure from such desirable standards. However, we believe that it is important to allow our people to repair the negative image that last Monday portrayed. In the circumstances, I have asked the Speaker to reconsider his order in the interest of contributing to a diffusion of this charged atmosphere in the community.
“The Speaker has cautiously agreed to give permission to persons who indicate their willingness to abide by conduct appropriate at sessions of the House of Assembly to be admitted. Persons wishing to attend should be informed that the House will be configured to hold approximately 100 persons. The Commissioner of Police [Mr. Paul Morrison] was present at the meeting and is now planning the protocols to achieve this.”
When the next meeting of the House was convened on Monday, November 16, members of the public turned out in large numbers. So, too, did the Police who took up positions inside, and in the precincts of, the House. The majority of the people stayed outside in, and around, a tent where they were able to view and listen to the House of Assembly via television screens. In the process, they were obliged to brave passing showers of rain. Less than 100 persons were inside the House. When the first reading of the Banking Bill was presented, there were no shoutings or catcalls unlike the previous occasion.
