AND ELIZABETH GONZALES

OPPOSITION Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar on Tuesday led her MPs in a walkout of the House of Representatives in protest at extra time accorded to the Prime Minister to talk in support of a government motion to Adopt the Report of the JSC on the Constitution (Amendment)(Tobago Self-Government) Bill 2020. She said she was standing up for democracy and for Tobago.

With the bill now lacking the requisite Opposition support for passage, the Government started it off in committee stage but with no prospect of getting a special majority, House Leader Camille Robinson-Regis adjourned the sitting until Wednesday when the committee stage will resume on the bill.

Earlier signs of discord arose when Couva North MP Ravi Ratiram twice rose on a point of order to interrupt Dr Rowley who then complained to the Speaker who in turn declared the standing orders must not be abused.

Things then came to a head on a motion to give an hour extra of speaking time to Rowley, who himself was giving a heated contribution over political figures in Tobago.

Robinson-Regis said, 'If I may, given the importance of this matter and given the fact that I ceded my time in order for the Prime Minister to close and to make his presentation, I beg to move that the Prime Minister be given 60 more minutes to complete.'

Ratiram loudly said,'The question must be put.'

Couva South MP Rudranath Indarsingh, acting as Opposition whip, rose, saying, 'Could I get your clarification, Madam Speaker.' Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George said, 'You're a very senior member and you know these sort of procedural motions are put without debate.'

She put the question that the PM get an extra 60 minutes, then concluding that the ayes have it.

Indarsingh rose again, to object. 'With your (Speaker's) leave the motion has prevailed, but at no point in time was there an agreement as it relates to this particular process.' He tried to continue talking as his mike faded and the Speaker rose to ask him to have a seat.

'There was no agreement as it relates to wind up, Madam Speaker,' Indarsingh continued to protest from his seat.

The Speaker told him to apologise for his words or else she would have to exercise another option.

'Apologise for what, Madam Speaker? There was no agreement as it relates to this.'

Annisette-George again told him to apologise.

Ratiram tried to intervene as peacemaker only to be slammed down by the Speaker saying,'I do not recognise you and I don't want anybody assisting me.'

Indarsingh stood and said, 'Madam Speaker, I apologise but I am...'

'That is it!' interjected the Speaker. 'I'm prepared to take your apology. If you want to go on as I said you have an option (that is, to leave.)'

Some minutes later Persad-Bissessar was heard loudly complaining.

'This is a total abuse of the standing orders.'

Opposition MPs left and Persad-Bissessar held a briefing outside of the Red House with her MPs, seeking to justify the walkout.

At that briefing, Persad-Bissesar complained that the govern