Occah: Not assault to eject MP Sharma

FORMER Speaker of the House of Representatives Occah Seapaul, yesterday said the Marshall of the House and police officers had nothing to fear when called on to eject an errant Member of Parliament. She was commenting on Friday’s incident where Marshall Gilbert Hamilton and several police officers failed to carry out the instructions of House Speaker Barry Sinanan to remove Fyzabad MP Chandresh Sharma, after he was suspended for disobeying a resolution to apologise for the Teacup Brawl. Opposition MPs had warned the police to get legal advice from the Commissioner of Police before trying to eject Sharma, or else they might face charges of assault. However,  Seapaul backed the ruling of Sinanan.

Remarking on the lack of police action, she said, “That’s strange. If requested by the Speaker, they ought to have removed him.” She said the Speaker’s authority in the chamber would be a defence for the Marshall and policemen from any charges of assault that might be levelled by Sharma. She said all the powers of the Speaker were spelt out very clearly in the standing orders of the House and in May’s Guide to Parliamentary Practice. When told that Marshall Hamilton left the chamber for a few minutes, possibly to consult the Speaker, and no one knew what was discussed, Seapal said she did not know enough to condemn the Marshall and police for not physically ejecting Sharma.

A Government source told Sunday Newsday the police were legally empowered to forcibly expel Sharma, but they probably did the right thing in showing restraint. He said under the standing orders the Speaker’s ruling could not be challenged. “Anything in the precincts of Parliament is regulated by the Speaker.” He disputed news reports that the Marshall and police officers did not seem to know what they were doing. “They knew what to do. But what would be the point of manhandling Sharma and making a scene?” The source agreed that it was probably a good idea to just let the House adjourn quietly, instead of making Sharma into some sort of martyr.