Opposition MPs evicted from parliament in St. Vincent after disobeying House Speaker, two injured

MP for Nothern Grenadines Dr. Godwin Friday being removed from the House of Assembly by police yesterday. Photo credit: searchlight.vc

Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace said that two opposition members are nursing injuries suffered while being removed from the House of Representatives Thursday. Eustace told journalists that Senator Vynette Frederick was nursing injuries to her shin and knee while MP for West Kingstown, Daniel Cummings had an injured shoulder. He said both were being treated at a private medical facility on the outskirts of capital.

Eustace also told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that his daughter, Mia Eustace, a former journalist in New York, who was recently called to the Bar in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, was badly shaken after being thrown down the stairs of the House of Parliament by police officers.

The Opposition Leader said that the two opposition members were manhandled down the stairs of the House of Assembly after Speaker of the House Hendrick Alexander order that Eustace and other opposition Parliamentarians be removed from the chamber.

Eustace said he was dragged down the stairs by police officers while his daughter, who was unaware of the fracas, was attempting to enter the gallery when she too was thrown out.

The incident occurred after the Opposition Leader rose on a point of order, requesting that Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves refrain from proceeding with proposed amendments to Section 51 of the Representation of the People Act.

The House Speaker asked Eustace to take his seat so that the Prime Minister could respond but the Opposition Leader remained standing.

The Speaker then asked Eustace to leave the House but the Opposition Leader stood his ground.

The Speaker then suspended the House for about 10 minutes during which time the Opposition Leader remained standing.

When the session resumed, the Speaker requested the Sergeant of Arms to escort the Opposition Leader out of the House but the seven other members of the opposition benches formed a protective ring around him.

The Speaker then called on members of the police force to assist the Sergeant of Arms to evict the opposition members from the House of Assembly.

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73 Comments

  1. smooth
    March 5, 2011

    This is not the opposition leader guys, this is one of the opposition ministers. The way how things going in SVG now ah days, someone will feel it in the backlash.

  2. SURPRISED???
    March 4, 2011

    ARE YOU SURPRISED…THE WRITING IS ON THE WALL. LABOUR BOUND TO FALL!!!

    • caribsun
      April 5, 2011

      Are you so stupid that you can agree with this nonsense?

  3. calypso fan
    March 4, 2011

    Dispite the fact the Leader of the Opposition did not sit down when asked to did not make it right for him to be dragged out of the house. would anyone of you drag your child out of your house if he/she was asked sit, no you wouldn’t, my dear people even if you do not support a person, political party, religion etc we cannot rejoice when bad things happen because remember “who laughs last, laughs the best” when your friends beard catches fire take water and wet yours. You and I may not be politicians to be dragged out of the House of Assembly but we may be wives, husbands, employees, and tell me would we accept to be dragged even if we are wrong!

  4. correct me
    March 4, 2011

    And we wonder why the young people have no respect

    • Cerberus
      March 4, 2011

      ….”monkey see, monkey do!”

  5. Sitcom
    March 4, 2011

    I do not agree to anyone being dragged out literally. That’s my only issue …

    but there are rules and he acted like a kid during a tantrum…mommy asked you to sit down and you stomp your feet, say no and remained standing …

  6. Vibes
    March 4, 2011

    That’s a lesson to you ‘blue-mealybugs’. Behave yourself, or else………..

    • Eva
      March 4, 2011

      i FEEL SORRY FOR YOU.

  7. ?????
    March 4, 2011

    The old SPEAKER rack a tak tak… Throw it our let it hush its mouth!!!!!

    • coshony
      March 4, 2011

      doe worry your turn coming

  8. Taitai
    March 4, 2011

    Vinci has Tonton Macoutes too man? That soldier or police really looking like a Tonton Macoutes.

  9. .
    March 4, 2011

    Please take a look at what did happen in St.Vincent at the house ..this is the link before ejection..

    http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/13061227

    • Jespen
      March 4, 2011

      A shame on these big babies.

  10. Hitman
    March 4, 2011

    The old speaker…… lol lol lol look kix

  11. gaynproud
    March 4, 2011

    They do right! The only problem I have is that de police doh beat them. They to mal carsay! They need to do that to de opposition in Dominica.

    • Cerberus
      March 4, 2011

      Where does your hatred of fellow human beings come from!? …shall pray for your redemption. May peace be upon you.

      • coshony
        March 4, 2011

        i support that question my brother

    • Dreamer
      March 4, 2011

      well i hope you get dragged out one of these days and maybe u will get back to your senses that irrespective of wether you like or dislike agree or disagree with someone everyone is human and should be treated like one

    • Dee
      March 4, 2011

      Well u gay n proud, so wat can one expect??? huh??

    • XT
      March 4, 2011

      ur name says it all! doh watch urself mr. gay and proud, and see if the same doesnt happen to u!

  12. Vibes
    March 4, 2011

    If there is one thing I can say about Ron Green and them is that they smarter than mister them boy. With all the nonsense they doing they will never allow themselves to be humiliated like that.

    But seriously, I just can’t understand why the oppsosition parties in the Caribbean need to behave like silly school boys and embarass themselves, their supporters, familly members and friends like that. Why can’t these individuals behave more like respectable staemen in the House of Assembly?

    It is time that these guys learn that when the majority have spoken on election day they should respect their voices and play their role in parliament instead of behaving like stubborn brats!!

    Ralphy surely showed those idiots there that he is not up to their nonsense, and Skerrit should not be afraid to put those fools here in their place when they choose to misbehave!!

    • mouth of the south
      March 4, 2011

      u have seen nothing yet,,,,, go to the house of lords in the u.k u will see drama,,, punch flying,,, n mother this n that going across the room lol

    • Thinking!!
      March 4, 2011

      “Why can’t these individuals behave more like respectable statesmen in the House of Assembly?”

      That’s precisely what’s missing throughout the Caribbean, STATESMEN!!

      Oh how I long for the likes of Eric Williams, Alexander Bustamante, Sir Grantley Adams, Vere Bird Sr., Norman Manley, E.O. Leblanc and their ilk.

      Even the efforts (their vision, selflessness, work ethic and so on) of men like Maurice Bishop, John Compton, Tom Adams of more recent times, put all these imposters to shame.

      But again, as they say in politics, you get what you pay for.

  13. Die Hard
    March 4, 2011

    That is is what we must do Eddo and the rest when they disobey our orders in the house. Drag then out.

    • Wow who let the dogs out?
      March 4, 2011

      BE carefull what you ask for your neighbour because waht you send out is what you get back Karma.

      • XT
        March 4, 2011

        why do u idiots stop playing politics and look at the bigger picture! does anyone even know wat it is the was protesting abt? sometimes we have to do silly things to get the message across!

  14. judge me
    March 4, 2011

    My dear people we all should have a voice. And we do but i have seen in this present time that the humility of respectable man has come to the standard of behaving like animals. Yet it would seem animals have more sense than us humans. It is simple, all he had to do was sit and listen and then stand and voice his views.If we stop and think and act accordingly we will achieve. No, is always about the ol’ speaker now. These people know the rules.They know off justice not about it. Due process exists for one reason; for balance. Recognize that is not perfect, because if it was allot of us would not get away with things we all do in secret.
    He does not deserve being treated that way, but he did not have to treat the system this way.

  15. WIKILEAKS
    March 4, 2011

    Garcon, why can’t the UWP behave themselves

  16. ZAFA DOMNIQUE
    March 4, 2011

    ALL DICTATORS MUST FALL.

  17. Lawman
    March 4, 2011

    Not sure of the details but are we saying that the Opposition is right to openly defy the orders of the Speaker? If we continue to agree to Members of Parliament defying the law and regulations we should not be surprised at the lawlessness facing our islands.
    At least out Opposition in DA not like those in St Vincent….they dont wait to be put out they just pack their bags and walk out…!!!

    • .
      March 4, 2011

      Watch the run up to the ejection in this link******************************

      http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/13061227

      • Lawman
        March 4, 2011

        WOW!!! What a video!!! After watching this I have no doubt in my mind there was a flagrant refusual by the leader Of the Opposition to obey the order of the Speaker and the Speaker had no choice but to order his refusal.
        Whether the Speaker is “An Ole Speaker” that kind of behavior is certainly not to be accepted in Parliament.

    • Wow who let the dogs out?
      March 4, 2011

      Let me tell you something…if Martin Luther King and all those brave black men we admire so much today had to abide by the dictatorship rules of their day…we would still be serving in a slave masters house. So sometimes we have to stand our ground against all odds and fight for what we believe in.

      And dont tell me there is a legal way of doing it..Because Nelson Mandella and so many others had to do things deemed illegal according to the system to get the message accross.

      • caribsun
        April 5, 2011

        Do you really believe that issues in SVG can be compared with segregation in the US or Apartheid in South Africa?? Those are civil rights issues!!! What is the civil right issue in SVG?? How DARE you compare Eustace to Dr. King or Nelson Mandela!! Neither his name nor actions is not worthy to me mentioned in the same book much less the same sentence.

  18. Jespen
    March 4, 2011

    lol. Parliament is supposed to be the highest court of the land, ain’t it? They ought not to have disrupted the proceeding. They had that well planned.

    They, and i mean the MP ought to have listened.

    The police are taught to comply and complain after. They are also taught to use necessary force.

  19. One Day
    March 4, 2011

    Funny Funny Funny!! You mean SVG has an old speaker too? Lol.

  20. Black Majic
    March 4, 2011

    Quiz…. What does Gaddifi, Gonsalves, Chavez, and Skerrit has in common? (a) Like to shut up the people. (b) Tyrant. (c) Wear red shirts d) Power hungry. (e) All of the above. Anyone, take a shopt at this quiz.

    • mouth of the south
      March 4, 2011

      (e) all of the above

      • ?????
        March 4, 2011

        They are all equal, and they will fall one after the other…!!!

    • Anonymous
      March 22, 2011

      that’s why you have that name..

    • caribsun
      April 5, 2011

      There are government agencies for dealing situations when people wish to disobey rules in a DEMOCRATIC country. You may be familiar with a few: the police force, court of law, Office of the DPP,

  21. orator
    March 4, 2011

    photo of the day….lol….lol…..lol…..

  22. TOLD YOU
    March 4, 2011

    That can never happen in Dominica, cause if they handle Edison James so and drag him on ground the whole of marigot will shut down roseau.

    • Fuke-CHillot!
      March 4, 2011

      LMFAO…. people in roseau will have to run for cover because the Amount of KOKOY wotti that will be flying in the place instead of rocks, LOL.. I would just pull up and catch a couple kokoy and go and eat LMAO.. they better just make sure when they coming they bring some hahwahsor Too LMAO LMAO! hahaha … all u have kix on DNO rotflmao

    • RA
      March 9, 2011

      Marigot is the BAD JOHN area……SHAME!!!!!

  23. watching
    March 4, 2011

    d old speaker that causing that

    • justice
      March 4, 2011

      lol. Nice one

  24. Wow who let the dogs out?
    March 4, 2011

    Thats how the labor party control…..We know their friends and they are like their friends…they rule by fear.

    Dominica is more subtle but we are no different.

  25. TALKER
    March 4, 2011

    LOOK ROW-ROW

  26. gwo pwel
    March 4, 2011

    the old speaker lol

    • Fuke-CHillot
      March 4, 2011

      LMAO!… that Old Speaker! LOL

  27. Soldier
    March 4, 2011

    This is the trend of governance Chavez is selling to his disciples in the region from Central America, South America and the Caribbean (St. Vincent and Dominica). Antiguans do not join this …. stay steadfast and focus on Democracy.

  28. antigua nice
    March 4, 2011

    in antigua gacoffee and chavez is taken over too

  29. mouth of the south
    March 4, 2011

    ms knight cah try dat nah awa,,, i doh think that one on her mind,,, but the opposition leader should have sit to allow mr gonsalves to respond to him,,, there must be a reason behind why he didn’t sit,,,, now how come a house speaker have so much power,,, i thought the speaker was just a mediator in the house,,,, ms knight doh try that eh,,, i know u probably saying ‘hhhhmmmm how would eddo look while being dragged out,,, guess i’ll see for my self”

    • cry
      March 4, 2011

      lol

  30. Amor
    March 4, 2011

    Look Jokes.

  31. PRAY FOR DOMINICA
    March 4, 2011

    SOON dca next!!

    • justice
      March 4, 2011

      yall quick to put bad vibes on Dominica. I pray that will NEVER happen in Dominica. Like i said they maybe choose to boy cut and protest but will not go so low to have someone dragging dem so…..

  32. DVT
    March 4, 2011

    None of you all were in SVG to hear the disruption these guys caused in the house, the story it self details that the guys refused to listen to the speaker, these guys have said they are going to disrupt the house and that is what they are doing, they should be suspended for the rest of the session.

    • Thinking!!
      March 4, 2011

      This sought of mob mentality is anathema to our democratic ambitions, to say the least.

      As much as we in the Caribbean love to emulate and compare ourselves to things American (US), we would learn much if we seek to emulate this American time-worn political tradition called COMPROMISE.

      This notion, though, requires a solid dose of humility by all sides in a political contest.

      Still, as long as a losing party continues to hold and propagate the view that they unfairly lost an election, even as they agreed to play by the same rules during the contest, the specter of confrontation and eventual violence hovers.

  33. Negre Mawon
    March 4, 2011

    Intimidation tactics by the government. they want to stiffle dissent and the opposition.
    It’s a global trend…Libya. Venezuela, Dominica, and St.Vincent

    • Just Astonished
      March 4, 2011

      I’m sure that this Speaker is Dominica’s very own Speaker of the House of Assembly Alix Boyd Knight. She is the only bad and old Speaker in the OECS.

      I wonder why she had to ask the Leader of the Opposition in St. Vincent to have his seat? Is that a growing trend in the OECS that Opposition party’s deliberately flout the rules so as to challenge the Speaker and create dissent? What a shame.

      • PJ
        March 4, 2011

        @ Just Astonished

        You sound so silly, how is it Alix Boyd? This occured in St. Vincent Parliament. Did you not look at the Ustream video ? Before you become so sure ( as you think), get your facts straight otherwise you are only making a fool of yourself. And don’t blame it on human error, you people are always just quick to comment without reading properly . smh

  34. justice
    March 4, 2011

    For a lil moment i glance at the pic and thought that was ron green…BUT i dont think our ppl in government positions do such stupidness. They maybe choose to boy cut parliament, protest, or even walk out but they wont go so far as to having someone brag dem so…check how d officer have d man by his pants. A man of position like u is not best u had pick up ur briefcase and jacket and walk not on your own man? dam……….

    • justice
      March 4, 2011

      correction…walk OUT

  35. marsha
    March 4, 2011

    Why can’t the opposition have a voice? WherE are we head ing

    • justice
      March 4, 2011

      Is not the matter they dont have a voice..is the way they want to go about it. And how they present themselves. D house speaker didnt say they cant speak…he told him to sit down and he refuse. H e SHOULD be suspended for some time and let him learn a lessen. Others will learn from it also.

  36. Anonymous
    March 4, 2011

    Kadafy type of Government, Look out Dominica .

    • BossLa
      March 4, 2011

      U cannot even spell ‘Gadaffi’ . This alone shows your ignorance. Please shut up!

      • Ca Kway Tonae!!
        March 4, 2011

        According Ask.com, “Libyan leader Muammar el-Qaddafi’s name is as like trying to figure out what Qaddafi really believes. It’s a moving target–even among Libyans.

        Here, for example, are the different ways different organizations, several of them Libyan, spell the name. And Ask.com is ‘sure that other spellings’ ” of the name will emerge:

        The New York Review of Books: Qaddhafi
        The New Republic: Qaddafi
        Time: Gaddafi
        Newsweek: Kaddafi
        McLean’s: Khadafy
        U.S. News & World Report: Qadhafi
        Business Week: Qadaffi
        World Press Review: Gadaffi

        Please stop being emotional about everything. And do some research before you speak in condemnation of others.

    • Vibes
      March 4, 2011

      Say what you want, but when idiots fail to respect the voice of the majority, they deserve every treatment metted out to them, PERIOD!!!!!!

  37. coshony
    March 4, 2011

    boy look coshony

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