BY DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

FREE National Movement (FNM) deputy leader Shanendon Cartwright was suspended from Parliament by House Speaker Patricia Deveaux yesterday - the second time he has been given a suspension.

Mr Cartwright was suspended from the next sitting of Parliament after he refused to apologise to South and Central Andros MP Leon Lundy as recommended by the House Committee on Privilege. His previous suspension came after he threw the mace out of a window. 

The suspension followed a report from the committee, which found Mr Cartwright’s claims during the budget debate—accusing Mr Lundy of misleading Parliament over Water and Sewerage billing practices—were “unsupported” and “unwarranted”.

Adrian White, the MP for St Anne’s, was also ordered to apologise for “inappropriate conduct” related to a separate matter during this year’s budget debate. He was not present during the evening session yesterday.

The Speaker asked the St Barnabas MP if he would follow the committee’s ruling and apologise, but he said he hadn’t read the report or sought legal advice.

“The chair had given an order for you to take a look and review the report and come back after lunch, it’s two hours,” she said.

The exchange continued with Mr Cartwright saying there was no record in the Hansard, the official transcripts of parliamentary debates,  of him using the word “lie” or calling Mr Lundy a liar.

“It did say that I said you misled this House, and I asked a specific question if there were any fees that were increased. I did not qualify when that was. The Honourable Member took it upon himself to misinterpret or interpret what I was trying to say. I asked him a specific question, and he answered a question I did not ask. I did not use the word ‘lie’ in this Honourable House,” he insisted.

Opposition leader Michael Pintard and East Grand Bahama MP Kwasi Thompson supported Mr Cartwright, questioning why he should apologise.

“I had an opportunity to look at the Hansard related to that and I am at a loss for how the committee arrived at the ruling,” Mr Pintard said.

Prime Minister Philip Davis also interjected, noting the committee had made its findings and the issue was no longer open for debate.

Mr Thompson said the committee did not declare a ruling of contempt, adding: “I am at a loss in terms of what obligates him, and what gave the committee jurisdiction to apologise,” said the FNM MP. 

However, Ms Deveaux shot back, defending the committee and its investigation.

She added: “You said it was not picked up on the Hansard, but there were members sitting in this Honourable Assembly who heard every word that came out of your mouth. So, you are saying that the committee is telling an untruth against you; that is what you are indicating?”

Mr Cartwright said he referred only to the Hansard, which the committee also used for its ruling.

“Madam Speaker, for the record, with God as my guide and my commitment to my principles, I cannot in good conscience apologise,” he reiterated.

Ms Deveaux posed the question a final time, but again, Mr Cartwright refused to comply and apologise.

Ms Deveaux then ruled Mr Cartwright would be suspended for the next sitting of the House after the summer break.

“I am handing that down because the member is not willing to comply with the findings of the report of the Committee of Privilege in the matter concerning Honourable Leon Lundy and himself,” she said.

“And I would not allow any member to call any committee that is made up of the Honourable Members that sit in this place to be called kangaroos.

“This is not a kangaroo court. There are many members that sit on various committees, including members on the opposite side and if you say this is a kangaroo court, all I can say from this chair, I hope the cap fits,” she said.

Speaking to The Tribune after the suspension, Mr Cartwright stood by his position, saying: “Simply put, we will not allow the voices of the Bahamian people to be stifled.”