{"id":110633,"date":"2020-05-18T08:37:28","date_gmt":"2020-05-18T12:37:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=110633"},"modified":"2020-05-18T12:36:23","modified_gmt":"2020-05-18T16:36:23","slug":"commentary-sir-gerald-wrong-like-hell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/commentary-sir-gerald-wrong-like-hell\/","title":{"rendered":"COMMENTARY: Sir Gerald- Wrong Like Hell"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"antig-1319857111\" class=\"antig-ecab antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/discoverflow.co\/web\/antigua\" aria-label=\"ANU CVP Digital Broadband 1200x400_1\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 1201w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:100\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:342\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:256\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1201\" height=\"401\"   \/><\/a><\/div><div id=\"antig-208416869\" class=\"antig-before-content antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/medicalbenefitsscheme\" aria-label=\"PHOTO-2026-04-07-10-45-56\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1200\/h:400\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PHOTO-2026-04-07-10-45-56.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1200\/h:400\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PHOTO-2026-04-07-10-45-56.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:100\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PHOTO-2026-04-07-10-45-56.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:341\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PHOTO-2026-04-07-10-45-56.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:256\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PHOTO-2026-04-07-10-45-56.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1200\" height=\"400\"   \/><\/a><\/div><p>By Rawlston Pompey<\/p><div id=\"antig-2057194728\" class=\"antig-content_5 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ablpag\" aria-label=\"PHOTO-2026-04-07-23-18-33\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1600\/h:800\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PHOTO-2026-04-07-23-18-33.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1600\/h:800\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PHOTO-2026-04-07-23-18-33.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:150\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PHOTO-2026-04-07-23-18-33.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:512\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PHOTO-2026-04-07-23-18-33.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:384\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PHOTO-2026-04-07-23-18-33.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1536\/h:768\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/PHOTO-2026-04-07-23-18-33.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1600\" height=\"800\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>The rapid global spread of the pandemic and lethal virus called \u2018Coronavirus,\u2019 further called \u2018Covid-19,\u2019 has resulted in changes to the way people interacted, as well as the distance they shall stay from each other. It also seemed to have impacted the manner in which people are expected to speak and to treat each other. That which may have been obvious is that the human brains may have been affected by the \u2018deadly virus.\u2019 Among other things, historical records shall show that the \u2018novel virus\u2019 had reduced world populations by hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people. The virus seemed to have affected the brain of some members of Parliament as well as members of the society who had violated the \u2018Eustace \u2018Tiko\u2019 Lake-led 9-member Central Board of Health (CBH) \u2018&#8230;imposed Curfew, and failure to wear a face mask in public.<\/p>\n<p>MOUTH AND BRAIN<\/p><div id=\"antig-3313512349\" class=\"antig-content_4 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/discoverflow.co\/web\/antigua\" aria-label=\"ANU CVP Digital Broadband 1200x400_1\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 1201w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:100\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:342\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:256\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1201\" height=\"401\"   \/><\/a><\/div><div id=\"antig-3103255961\" class=\"antig-content_12 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ablpag\" aria-label=\"Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1920\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1920\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:169\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:576\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:432\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1536\/h:864\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Full-ABLP-Team-Digital-Billboard-1920x1080px.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>More interestingly, may have been an apparent \u2018Coronavirus-affected \u2018Mouth and Brain\u2019 of \u2018&#8230;House Speaker Sir Gerald Owen Anderson Watt KCN, QC and the mouth of Member of Parliament, Jamale Pringle.\u2019 Hansard and history may never show, while posterity may never know that a feisty \u2018House Speaker\u2019 may have cantankerously entered into a heated \u2018public spat\u2019 with a junior Member of Parliament [ANU: May 15, 2020]. Given the sordid encounter, pundits and some Members felt that the \u2018House Speaker\u2019 may have been reckless not to have remembered that he may have guided the parliamentary exchange, either by the \u2018Standing Orders of the House\u2019 or by employing a better sense of \u2018parliamentary judgement.\u2019<\/p><div id=\"antig-3490521736\" class=\"antig-content antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ReggaeInTheParkAntigua\" aria-label=\"lucanio\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:864\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/lucanio.jpeg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:864\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/lucanio.jpeg 1080w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:240\/h:300\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/lucanio.jpeg 240w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:819\/h:1024\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/lucanio.jpeg 819w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:960\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/lucanio.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1350\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>PERSPECTIVE<\/p>\n<p>The \u2018Coronavirus\u2019 would take no responsibility for what had developed within the \u2018Sacred Halls of Parliament\u2019 [May 14, 2020]. This commentary looks specifically at the recent developments within the \u2018Sacred Chambers\u2019 of the national Parliament.\u2019 It particularly looks at; (i) &#8230;The speakership role of Sir Gerald O. A. Watt KCN, QC; and (ii) &#8230;Reactions and\/or responses by Member of the House, Jamale Pringle.\u2019 Having been denied the \u2018privilege of making a \u2018Personal Explanation\u2019 on a matter, said to be of national import, he may have \u2018rightly or wrongly\u2019 pointed out some inconsistencies to that which is contained in the \u2018Oaths of Office,\u2019 a required subscription by a person appointed to the \u2018Speakership\u2019 of the House of Representatives.<\/p><div id=\"antig-1106983570\" class=\"antig-content_2 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.courts.com\/antigua\/\" aria-label=\"500X500 (1)\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:500\/h:500\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/500X500-1.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:500\/h:500\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/500X500-1.jpg 500w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:300\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/500X500-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:150\/h:150\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/500X500-1.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>STIFLING SOCIAL PROGRESS<\/p>\n<p>There may be no doubt that those holding public office shall always be mindful of their duty to exhibit a sense of responsibility and civility in interacting with their fellowmen. Thus, as a mark of respect, humans are generally expected to demonstrate behavior that is to be seen as consistent with good discipline. Not infrequently those rising from humble beginnings are subjected to frustration and humiliation by those given \u2018privileged position\u2019 and have considered themselves as having been sufficiently endowed with \u2018superior intellect.\u2019 These are the very ones, who were often seen as \u2018Stifling Social Progress.\u2019 When they provoke the ire in those who are seeking to aspire, not only has \u2018&#8230;hell breaks loose,\u2019 but they also incur the wrath of the populace.<\/p><div id=\"antig-2493128969\" class=\"antig-content_3 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.antiguabarbudaculinarymonth.com\/\" aria-label=\"CM key_WEB 1300x300_1\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1301\/h:301\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/CM-key_WEB-1300x300_1.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1301\/h:301\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/CM-key_WEB-1300x300_1.jpg 1301w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:69\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/CM-key_WEB-1300x300_1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:237\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/CM-key_WEB-1300x300_1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:178\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/CM-key_WEB-1300x300_1.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1301\" height=\"301\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>CONSTITUTIONAL PRINCIPLE<\/p><div id=\"antig-3646219830\" class=\"antig-content_6 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/discoverflow.co\/web\/antigua\" aria-label=\"ANU CVP Digital Broadband 1200x400_1\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 1201w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:100\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:342\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:256\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1201\" height=\"401\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>It is among the United Nations General Assembly proclamations that, \u2018&#8230;All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights\u2019 [Article I: 1948]. Frequently, the things a \u2018privileged few have uttered or done, they were frequently \u2018Wrong Like Hell.\u2019 As has been observed by many people, there has been a \u2018&#8230;Founding Constitution Principle\u2019 that has often been overlooked by those placed in \u2018privileged positions\u2019 to represent the citizenry. This principle states, \u2018&#8230;Whereas the people of Antigua and Barbuda assert their conviction that their happiness and prosperity can be best pursued in democratic society in which all persons may, to the extent of their capacity, play some part in the national life\u2019 [CO: Principle C].<\/p>\n<p>SOCIAL DISTINCTION<\/p>\n<p>How humans commune, communicate and relate to each other is often seen as determinants to \u2018&#8230;responses; &#8230;interaction; &#8230;treatment or attitude\u2019 others may display. This, as everyone knows, has not only been the cause of much confusion, but has also fuelled consternation as to see in others elements of defiance and rebelliousness. Those so positioned by \u2018Reciprocal Privileges\u2019 in holding public office, are reasonably expected to be as \u2018&#8230;gracious; &#8230;affable; &#8230;approachable; &#8230;tolerable; &#8230;obligingly helpful\u2019 and as considerate as they possibly could be. Even as St. Paul suggests, \u2018&#8230;But every man in his own order\u2019 [KJV: 1 Corinthians 15: 23], within this nation, there shall be no \u2018Social Distinction\u2019 of any kind.<\/p>\n<p>QUIBBLING OVER TRIVIALITIES<\/p>\n<p>Frequently, humans have found themselves \u2018Quibbling Over Trivialities.\u2019 Besides this, it has been the human experience that just as \u2018Violence begets violence,\u2019 so too has been \u2018Disrespect begets disrespect,\u2019 be it in the wider society or in the \u2018Sacred Chambers of Parliament.\u2019 Thus, it is not unusual for fist fights to erupt in Parliaments. Though not the best way, that appears to be one of the many ways to get parliamentary views across either to the \u2018Speaker of the House or to other Parliamentarians.\u2019 This may have been recently observed in the \u2018Turkish Parliamentary brawl.\u2019 Displeased Parliamentarians had flexed their muscles upon each other. It was a fight, \u2018full of fists\u2019 [You Tube: March 20, 2020].<\/p>\n<p>PARLIAMENTARY HISTORY<\/p>\n<p>The national Parliament is full of historical upheavals. Hansard may show that past Members had running verbal battles with either the \u2018House Speaker or Senate President.\u2019 For instance, when former Opposition Member Gaston Browne led the chant \u2018&#8230;Baldwin must go,\u2019 following a brief recess, on resumption of the Sitting, then \u2018House Speaker D. Gisele Isaac\u2019 immediately directed the House\u2019s attention to the \u2018&#8230;grossly disorderly chant.\u2019 With immediacy, the relevant \u2018Standing Order\u2019 was applied against the belligerent Member. Eventually, instead of <strong>\u2018Baldwin must go,\u2019<\/strong> it was <strong>\u2018Gaston\u2019<\/strong> who was ordered by the House to <strong>\u2018Go.\u2019 <\/strong>By enforcement of the <strong>\u2018Rules of Order,\u2019 <\/strong>he was suspended from further service to the House\u2019 [SO: No.43].<\/p>\n<p>DISORDERLY CONDUCT<\/p>\n<p>Further to such development, during the \u2018Financial Year 2011, Senate President Hazelyn Francis had determined that the conduct of then Senator Joanne Massiah, fell well below the standard of respectable parliamentary behavior. Consequently, she was ordered to withdraw from the Chambers immediately for conduct the Chair had considered to be \u2018&#8230;grossly disorderly\u2019 [2011]. That still was not all. When former Senator E. P. \u2018Chet\u2019 Greene was alleged to have made certain \u2018inciting comments\u2019 about possible action to be taken against former Governor General, Dame Louis Lake Tack,\u2019 in the eyes of then \u2018Senator Anthony Stewart,\u2019 he may have gone way \u2018Beneath the Surface.\u2019 This was a \u2018Talk Radio\u2019 programme he then hosted on a radio station.<\/p>\n<p>SENATORIAL FATE<\/p>\n<p>The then Opposition Senator E.P. \u2018Chet\u2019 Greene\u2019s \u2018Senatorial Fate\u2019 not only fell into the hands of \u2018Senator Anthony Stewart,\u2019 but also that of the \u2018Senate Majority and then Senate President.\u2019 When a \u2018Motion for Suspension\u2019 was moved and seconded by \u2018Senator Joanne Massiah,\u2019 the overwhelming majority voted \u2018Aye,\u2019 the then offending Senator was slapped a \u2018&#8230;three Sittings Suspension\u2019 [January 2, 2011]. Ironically, at an earlier sitting of the Senate, while making his \u2018maiden Senatorial presentation,\u2019 it was Senator Joanne Massiah, (cross-talking) who had made the \u2018jestful utterance\u2019 to the new Senator, <strong>\u2018&#8230;Cockroach has no business in fowl house.\u2019<\/strong> Today, he is not only a Member of the House of Representatives, but also holds the portfolioed position of \u2018&#8230;Minister of Foreign Affairs\u2019 [June 2014-]. Since that era, much has not changed. With constant snorting and bickering, the apparent \u2018plantation mentality\u2019 remains much the same.<\/p>\n<p><strong>SERIOUS IMPLICATIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The eminent House Speaker now runs the risk of being referred to as a \u2018feeble-minded hypocrite.\u2019 Researching for this commentary, it was revealed that in a parliamentary debate (Tuesday 20, January 2015), a \u2018Tasheka Lavann\u2019 news story states inter alia,\u2018&#8230;Members of the Government side walked out of Parliament just as the Member for All Saints East and St. Luke, Joanne Massiah rose to speak.\u2019 There were no sanctions against any Member then. More than likely, most of the current Members were in attendance at that Sitting. Not sure how the hell \u2018Sir Gerald\u2019 would reconcile these two incidents. His handling, then and now may have <strong>\u2018Serious Implications\u2019 <\/strong>for; (a) \u2018&#8230;Suspect Chairmanship; (b) &#8230;Questionable integrity; and (c) &#8230;Apparent glaring partiality.\u2019 (Visit and click on Videos) [ABS TV\/Radio: January 27, 2015].<\/p>\n<p>DREADFUL UTTERANCE<\/p>\n<p>In the case of the recalcitrant \u2018Parliamentarian Jamale Pringle,\u2019 given his clearly defiant stance, the \u2018House Speaker,\u2019 reluctantly, yet decorously surrendered with the \u2018Dreadful Utterance,\u2019 <strong>\u2018&#8230;Fools rushed in where wise men fear to tread.\u2019<\/strong> This came after the somewhat tolerable House Speaker, had issued a caution to the Member that he was <strong>\u2018standing on thin ice.\u2019<\/strong> Whatever, the comment meant; it may have been inappropriately used. \u00a0Then rightly or wrongly, yet as daringly as he could have been, the young and brazen parliamentarian had urged the apparent deflated \u2018House Speaker to \u2018break the darn \u2018Ice\u2019 under his feet. Luckily, the Speaker who had been in control of his well known \u2018feisty mood\u2019 did not, since the obvious recalcitrant Member, may have perilously and regretfully fallen beneath the darn icy surface.\u2019<\/p>\n<p><strong>INSIPIDITY OR STUPIDITY<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Though he may not have exercised a discretionary power as contained in the \u2018Standing Order\u2019 [No. 20], \u2018House Speaker Sir Gerald O. A. Watt KCN, and QC\u2019 may still be seen as conforming to such Standing Order. In denying Parliamentarian and Member and Leader of Her Majesty\u2019s Loyal Opposition, Jamale Pringle\u2019 the <strong>\u2018Positional Privilege\u2019<\/strong> to make a <strong>\u2018Personal Explanation,\u2019 <\/strong>he had incurred the wrath of the nation.\u2019 Such denial appeared to have been laced with <strong>\u2018Insipidity.\u2019 <\/strong>No way, \u2018Rawlston Pompey\u2019 was going to write the word <strong>\u2018Stupidity.\u2019<\/strong> No Sah! It seems much better to say, \u2018Sir Gerald.\u2019 Ask the \u2018Deans\u2019 of \u2013 St. John\u2019s Cathedral; &#8230;Calypso; or &#8230;Transformation.\u2019 Academically, that which might still be emphasized is that \u2018Sir Gerald\u2019 is not Parliament. Moreover, except \u2018Virtual Parliament,\u2019 without the physical presence of a \u2018Quorum\u2019 a \u2018Speaker\u2019 cannot preside over the empty seats.<\/p>\n<p><strong>WRONG LIKE HELL<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As it relates to \u2018&#8230;Personal Explanations,\u2019 it is necessary to understand the \u2018Standing Order.\u2019 It unambiguously states; \u2018&#8230;With the \u2018LEAVE\u2019 of the Speaker, a Member may make a personal explanation at the time appointed under the Standing Order, although there is no question before the House, but no controversial matter may be brought forward, nor any debate upon the explanation\u2019 [SO: No. 20]. Apparently harboring \u2018pre-conceived notions,\u2019 the House Speaker had given the Member clear indications that; <strong>(i)<\/strong> &#8230;He would allow no lengthy explanation; and <strong>(ii)<\/strong> &#8230;He would allow no response to an issue that was never raised within the \u2018Sacred Chambers of Parliament.\u2019 Thus, he provided no opportunity and accorded no significance to what he had not heard. It is really not the same as denying an accused person the \u2018right to be heard as to be seen \u2018&#8230;Against Natural Justice.\u2019 Notwithstanding, \u2018Sir Gerald\u2019 appeared to have been <strong>\u2018Wrong Like Hell.\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>ROLE OF HOUSE SPEAKER<\/p>\n<p>Apart from maintaining observance of the \u2018Standing Orders,\u2019 Members of the House of Representatives shall know that the \u2018Chair\u2019 guides the proceedings and is duty-bound to direct attention to the \u2018Standing Orders\u2019 or to seek clarity on issues that may require its intervention and\/or to make rulings on matters put to the \u2018Chair\u2019 that might be considered; (a) &#8230;Out of Order; (b) &#8230;Issues raised on points of elucidation; (iii) and\/or may grant leave to Members to make \u2018Personal Explanations\u2019 at the appointed time\u2019 [SO: No.13 (l)]. Therefore, it is to be clearly understood that the latter is \u2018NOT\u2019 a right. A requesting Member shall be considered reckless not to know that such is solely discretion to be exercised only by the \u2018House Speaker.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>NO SUBSTITUTE<\/p>\n<p>None may deny the significance and usefulness of the \u2018&#8230;Thomas Erskine May publication on \u2018Parliamentary Practice\u2019 [February 8, 1815 \u2013 May 17, 1886]. Even with frequent references to its contents, the publication is still \u2018No Substitute\u2019 for the constitutionally- established \u2018Standing Orders of the House of Representatives of Antigua and Barbuda.\u2019 The \u2018Rules of Order\u2019 are applicable and enforceable by the \u2018Speaker\u2019 during Sittings of the House of Representatives\u2019 [CO: 1967: Section 48]. Let it be understood that the \u2018Standing Orders\u2019 in which powers reside in a \u2018House Speaker\u2019 are \u2018Sections 41: 42: 43 and 44.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT<\/p>\n<p>For the \u2018Avoidance of Doubt,\u2019 that which shall be clearly understood is this; (i) \u2018&#8230;The Speaker in the House or Chairman in Committee shall be responsible for the observance of the rules of the House and Committee respectively and their decision of any point of order shall not be open to appeal, and shall not be reviewed by the House, except upon a substantive Motion made after notice\u2019 [Standing Order: No. 41]. Invariably, lack of knowledge or unfamiliarity with the \u2018Standing Orders,\u2019 may give the uncanny appearance that a \u2018House Speaker\u2019 was partisan in his application or non-application of the \u2018Standing Orders.\u2019 Moreover, this is usually contingent upon certain considerations. For instance, an opportunity might be allowed if it seeks not to provoke controversy within the \u2018House membership.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>HALLELUJAH \u2013 PRAISE YE THE LORD<\/p>\n<p>In the ensuing heated exchange that enveloped the Chambers and clearly overshadowing that which may have been; (a) \u2018&#8230;The exercise of rationality or discretion, as to be seen as impartial chairmanship; and (b) &#8230;Allowing the lone voice within that which has been accepted as a democratic parliamentary Chamber.\u2019 Instead, and seemingly guided by apparent \u2018pre-conceived ideas,\u2019 an opportunity to be nationally heard, was denied to the aspiring parliamentarian. Looked at from a different perspective, it may have been easier for \u2018sacked Agriculture Minister Dean Jonas\u2019 who had seemingly \u2018transformed into a \u2018model Minister\u2019 and sufficiently redeemed to be appointed as \u2018&#8230;Social Transformation Minister\u2019 to sing <strong>\u2018&#8230;Praise Ye the Lord; &#8230;Hallelujah\u2019 <\/strong>outside the Chambers of Parliament where Prime Minister Gaston Browne seemed to have heard him. Whether \u2018singing or begging,\u2019 the same darn thing. Supper would be provided.<\/p>\n<p>INTELLECTUAL INSULTS<\/p>\n<p>The recent parliamentary exchanges between a young Member of Parliament \u2018&#8230;Jamale Pringle and veteran politician\/parliamentarian; former Attorney General and Chairman of the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC),\u2019 the indomitable \u2018House Speaker Sir Gerald A. Watt KCN, QC,\u2019 speaks to the need for commonality of understanding and for applications of the \u2018Rules of Order.\u2019 Thoughtlessly led into a \u2018War of Words,\u2019 interspersed with \u2018Intellectual Insults,\u2019 from the Chair, the rookie Parliamentarian appeared resolute in taking the verbal fight to the \u2018House Speaker.\u2019 The \u2018rookie parliamentarian\u2019 may have told himself that; (i) &#8230;I shall be chided no more; (ii) &#8230;I shall be insulted no more; and (iii) &#8230;Bullied no more.\u2019 Breaking hell loose in the \u2018Parliamentary Chamber,\u2019 a roaring lion may have been quietly tamed.\u00a0 Recordings of the exchange reportedly went viral on social media.<\/p>\n<p>RULES OF ORDER<\/p>\n<p>There were audible, but unidentifiable voices apparently urging the \u2018House Speaker\u2019 either to frustrate or humiliate the inexperienced and budding Parliamentarian. More importantly, since no Member made no intervention, reasonable inferences may have been drawn that they may have been seeking the enforcement of the \u2018Rules of Order\u2019 with some degree of rigidity. This may be viewed from the perspective of powers contained in the \u2018Standing Orders\u2019 that states, \u2018&#8230;The Speaker or Chairman \u2018SHALL\u2019 order Members whose conduct is grossly disorderly to withdraw immediately from the House during the remainder of the day\u2019s sitting\u2019 [SO\u2019s: 42 &amp; 44]. This was never a question put to the Member or those present at the Sitting [May 14, 2020].<\/p>\n<p>DISREGARD FOR AUTHORITY<\/p>\n<p>Given the availability and applicability of specified \u2018Rules of Order,\u2019 the non-application of the \u2018Standing Orders,\u2019 suggests the \u2018Speaker\u2019s waning ability to effectively maintain order within the parliamentary Chamber. A particular \u2018Standing Order\u2019 states, \u2018&#8230;If a Member shows disregard for the authority of the Chair or abuses these Standing Orders, by persistently and wilfully obstructing the business of the House, the Speaker shall direct the attention to the House to the incident, mentioning by name the Member concerned. A Motion may \u2018THEN\u2019 be made upon which the Speaker shall forthwith put the question with; (a) &#8230;No amendment; (b) &#8230;Adjournment; or (c) &#8230;No debate being allowed that such Member be suspended from the service to the House\u2019 [SO: 43].<\/p>\n<p>SPEAKER\u2019S PROMPT<\/p>\n<p>From professional knowledge, experience and service to the \u2018Parliamentary Chambers\u2019 in the capacity of \u2018Sergeant-At Arms,\u2019 bearer and protector of the \u2018Queen\u2019s Mace,\u2019 then House Speaker Casford Murray may have firmly ordered a \u2018Disorderly Member\u2019 to immediately withdraw from the parliamentary Chambers. Hesitation on the part of a \u2018Grossly Disorderly Member,\u2019 would simply have been met by the \u2018Speaker\u2019s Prompt.\u2019 Such would have been, \u2018&#8230;Sergeant, please assist the Member outside.\u2019 Before the named Member could have said, \u2018Mr. Speaker&#8230;,\u2019 with or without gathering parliamentary papers, he would have been whisked away from the Chambers.<\/p>\n<p>EMBARRASSINGLY STUNNED<\/p>\n<p>This has clearly not been the case of Member of Parliament Jamale Pringle. He was never cited by the \u2018House Speaker\u2019 for disorderly conduct, and had quoted not been specific as to the \u2018Standing Orders\u2019 the Member may have been breached. Not sure that he is psychic, but he sure had worked a \u2018magical spell\u2019 on the usually \u2018cantankerous Speaker.\u2019 That which appeared baffling was that even with the readily available and applicable \u2018House Standing Orders,\u2019 the Speaker\u2019 may have been \u2018Embarrassingly Stunned\u2019 by a purposefully defiant parliamentarian. Such stance may `have been seen as second only to then and now, Member of Parliament and present \u2018Prime Minister Gaston Browne.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>ENGINEERING FEATS<\/p>\n<p>Love him or loathe him; &#8230;shun him or embrace him,\u2019 he has been an individual with a \u2018pitiless resolve.\u2019 Combined this with a proclivity to be purposefully defiant, he seemed to have wend his way admirably through countless adversities. Added to this trait, has been his unrelenting persistence in taking calculated risks, but only to the extent that the \u2018&#8230;ends shall satisfy the means.\u2019 Testament of these contentions might be seen on reflections of that which befell \u2018former parliamentary Leader of Her Majesty\u2019s Loyal Opposition, Sir Robin Yearwood.\u2019 Ousted by three former parliamentary colleagues, (i) \u2018&#8230;Steadroy \u2018Cutie\u2019 Benjamin; (ii) &#8230;Asot Michael; and (iii) &#8230;Gaston Browne\u2019 [Caribbean 360: January 9, 2006]. One may also reflect upon the experiences of \u2018former party leader Sir Lester B. Bird KCN.\u2019 Both men had fallen victims to the trio\u2019s apparent \u2018Engineering Feats.\u2019 The latter, ousted from the leadership position at a \u2018biennial-Convention\u2019 [November 2012].<\/p>\n<p>RANT AND RAGE<\/p>\n<p>The go-getting nature and pragmatic philosophy of Prime Minster Gaston Browne have placed him a \u2018notch\u2019 ahead of all those that had vied for elective office. He had no tolerance for \u2018parliamentary biases\u2019 and displayed a purposeful resolve in making former House Speaker, D. Gisele Isaac, \u2018uncomfortably jittery.\u2019 Known for blurting, \u2018&#8230;Baldwin must go,\u2019 a wild uproar and chaos broke out in the public gallery [Caribbean360: June 16, 2010]. Even as those present \u2018Rant and Raged,\u2019 the Speaker kept her composure and showed tough-spiritedness, while being firm and decisive. In the recent parliamentary developments, even as \u2018Prime Minister Gaston Browne\u2019 may have allowed Parliamentarian Jamale Pringle to dig his own \u2018Parliamentary Grave,\u2019 without encouraging \u2018reckless parliamentary behavior,\u2019 he could still learn something from his proclivity.<\/p>\n<p>OATH OF ALLEGIANCE<\/p>\n<p>It is instructive to note that both \u2018Speaker and Member\u2019 have both subscribed to the \u2018Oath of Allegiance.\u2019 It states, \u2018&#8230;I Gerald Anderson Watt\/Jamale Pringle, do swear that I will faithfully bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second; &#8230;Her Heirs; and Successors, according to law.\u2019 Unlike Member Jamale Pringle who holds no governmental office, Sir Gerald A. Watt KCN, QC, holds the office of \u2018House Speaker.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>SPIRIT OF PRINCE KLASS<\/p>\n<p>Consequently, he had subscribed to the \u2018Oath of Office.\u2019 Such subscription follows, \u2018&#8230;I Gerald Anderson Watt, do swear that I will exercise the functions of the office of \u2018Speaker\u2019 without fear or favor; &#8230;affection; or &#8230;ill-will according to the Constitution and other laws of Antigua and Barbuda\u2019 [Appendix: Standing Order No. 3]. It may have been for non-observance of these principles that had provoked the \u2018Pringle\u2019s Responses.\u2019 As though possessed by the \u2018&#8230;Spirit of King Klass,\u2019 firmly and repetitively he said, \u2018&#8230;Mr. Speaker, I am standing my grounds\u2019 [ANU: Parliament: May 14, 2020]. The House Speaker surrendered.<\/p>\n<p>EGOISTICALLY WOUNDED<\/p>\n<p>He may have left his out-numbered opposite Members thunderstruck and an apparent \u2018House Speaker\u2019 jaded and drained of intellectual energy and spirited enthusiasm, as to be seen as \u2018Egoistically Wounded.\u2019 From all indications, the Members present, may only have succeeded in causing the exchange between \u2018Parliamentarian Jamal Pringle and House Speaker, Sir Gerald A. Watt KCN, QC\u2019 to be prolonged. Seemingly satisfied that he had adequately represented the electorate and himself, the far less experienced parliamentarian purposefully gathered his parliamentary papers and with decorum, peacefully and quietly made his exit from the sacred Chambers of Parliament. He was not so ordered by the Chair to withdraw from the Chambers.<\/p>\n<p>CONCLUSION<\/p>\n<p>Not sure where the hell they may go from here, but lest House Speakers seek to; (a) &#8230;Create an enabling parliamentary environment; (b) &#8230;Until they embark upon a drive to promote parliamentary democracy; (c) &#8230;Until they encourage and foster parliamentary harmony; and (d) &#8230;Lest they end parliamentary misery; (e) &#8230;Lest they cease sowing seeds of discord as to encourage divisiveness or provoke animosity; (f) &#8230;Lest they discontinue oppression and\/or suppression of the voices of reason; (g) &#8230;Lest they start to promote cohesiveness among Members, as to develop commonality of understanding, necessary to reach parliamentary consensus; (h) &#8230;Lest they show mutual respect for each other; (i) &#8230;Lest there is peace among the political directorate and the electorate;\u2019 then as \u2018Covid-19\u2019 continues to dwindle populations and \u2018meager means of society\u2019s vulnerable people,\u2019 expect \u2018&#8230;all hell to further break loose\u2019 in future sittings of Parliament.<\/p>\n<div id=\"antig-68273198\" class=\"antig-in-comments_2 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/@hadeedmotorsltd\" aria-label=\"Hadeed_WEB_Banner_MG-2\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1000\/h:250\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Hadeed_WEB_Banner_MG-2.png\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1000\/h:250\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Hadeed_WEB_Banner_MG-2.png 1000w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:75\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Hadeed_WEB_Banner_MG-2.png 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:192\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Hadeed_WEB_Banner_MG-2.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1000\" height=\"250\"   \/><\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Rawlston Pompey The rapid global spread of the pandemic and lethal virus called \u2018Coronavirus,\u2019 further called \u2018Covid-19,\u2019 has resulted in changes to the way people interacted, as well as the distance they shall stay from each other. It also seemed to have impacted the manner in which people are expected to speak and to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":20156,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-110633","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.1 (Yoast SEO v24.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>COMMENTARY: Sir Gerald- Wrong Like Hell - Antigua News Room<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/commentary-sir-gerald-wrong-like-hell\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"COMMENTARY: Sir Gerald- Wrong Like Hell\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Rawlston Pompey The rapid global spread of the pandemic and lethal virus called \u2018Coronavirus,\u2019 further called \u2018Covid-19,\u2019 has resulted in changes to the way people interacted, as well as the distance they shall stay from each other. 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