VIEW FROM THE CWP
In our Parliament the quorum is 12 Members. I often
have to wait to start a sitting because there is no quorum. On one occasion, I decided to enter the Chamber five minutes after the scheduled time of commencement. There was no quorum present, I announced this and walked out of the Chamber with the Sergeant-at-Arms. The Speaker is concerned with the image of
Parliament and should demand that the House conduct itself with decorum, order and dignity. Members must be called upon to adhere strictly to the rules and their compliance contributes greatly towards that end. In upholding the image of Parliament, I have on many occasions had to remind the media of their duty to report proceedings accurately and, where they have reported inaccurately, to remedy the wrong reporting. Some jurisdictions have a Parliamentary Privileges
Act. In the absence of such legislation in Dominica, the constitution provides: “No civil or criminal proceedings may be instituted
against any Member of the House for words spoken before, or written in a report to, the House or a committee thereof or by reason of any matter or thing brought by him therein by petition, Bill, resolution, motion or otherwise.” In spite of the immunity from suit with which
The Speaker’s Chair in the Chamber of Dominica’s House of Assembly.
Parliament is clothed, the Speaker should not permit what would otherwise be defamatory statements against named individuals during debate or as an aside. The Standing Orders speak of “unparliamentary language” and “imputing improper motives”. The scope of a Bill or motion sets the parameters
for debate. The Speaker’s attempts to keep the debate relevant may often be met with harsh criticism both in and
The Speaker is a time-keeper. I have not experienced any difficulty with
this. Members have complied with my call to discontinue and most requests for additional time are granted, though opposition requests for further time are sometimes shortened. Administrative duties include ensuring adherence to all deadlines and time-frames stipulated in the Standing Orders for notices of meetings and the dispatch of Order Papers to Members. Although every effort is made to meet these times, it is not unusual for a Member to object that the service of the Order Paper did not satisfy the four clear days mandated by the rules, or that a particular Bill was too voluminous to be taken through all readings at that particular meeting. I have noticed, however, that sometimes even short and medium-length Bills have not been fully perused beforehand. The Speaker should always be impartial as Members expect that the
Speaker’s primary duty is to defend the rights, privileges, traditions and independence of Parliament. The Speaker is the servant not the master of the House and is bound by the Standing Orders. The Speaker must apply them to ensure Members’ rights are not infringed, particularly those of the minority. Where Standing Orders do not provide for a matter, we have the common
provision that resort is to be had to the usage and practice of the House of Commons of Great Britain. The Speaker may also seek guidance and counsel from other authoritative texts on parliamentary practice and procedure, other Parliaments and advisory staff. The Speaker should be familiar with parliamentary procedure and be ready
at a moment’s notice to interpret and apply Standing Orders. Knowledge of past proceedings may permit the Speaker to resort to “settled practice” for a matter where no rule exists.
outside the House. If one Member is permitted to widen the debate, it is only fair to allow other Members to respond; but they should not go beyond what was said initially. At the very least, the Speaker should foster a cordial relationship with all
Members on both sides of the House. An open-door policy and a fair share of attention demonstrate objectivity and impartiality and allow Members to feel “comfortable” with the Speaker. An active Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association also
fosters close relations since the CPA transcends parties and factions and encourages Members as Parliamentarians to fulfil their role of service to the people. In my responsibility for the parliamentary precincts, I was confronted with
an unusual situation when, prior to a sitting, an opposition Member said publicly that persons would be “coming with bazookas” and other weapons to deal with opponents. The police took the statement very seriously and Members on both sides were searched by police upon their entry into the Chamber. I only became aware of this as Members spoke about it when the sitting commenced. Opposition Members vociferously condemned this action. I naturally apologized to Members and took full responsibility as the Speaker is ultimately responsible for all that goes on within the precincts. An inquiry was undertaken by the Privileges Committee but was never concluded. The job of the Speaker can be arduous. Sittings often go on well past
midnight and, whereas Members may go off for a rest, the Speaker continues to sit. I receive wide support from most of the public over the airwaves and otherwise and am encouraged by that. I now have the honour of being the longest serving Speaker in Dominica.
The Parliamentarian | 2013: Issue One | 9
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