ROSEAU, Dominica, Monday November 29, 2010 – Opposition MPs from the United Workers Party (UWP) walked out of Parliament today, accusing Speaker of the House, Alix Boyd Knights of abusing her power.
The action came after Boyd Knights refused to allow them an adjournment so that five questions that had been rejected for placement on the Order Paper could be addressed by members on the government side.
The five questions were among eight submitted for the Order Paper, but were rejected by the Speaker on the grounds that they were not supported by the rules of the House.
Speaking to members of the media after the walkout today, UWP leader Ron Green said: “We sought to have the house adjourned so that the five questions we submitted would be considered by the Ministers.”
“We found no opportunity in the House of Assembly to have that effort to be heard and to participate dealt with and that is why we have walked out of the house there because the speaker has not seen it fit to consider the fact that five out of eight of our questions for the first time in the history of this parliament have not been considered,” he added.
Green said the Speaker had prevented the Opposition from representing the people of Dominica and ensuring that democracy is strengthened.
