PSOJ blasts MPs for "crass and boorish conduct" in Gordon House

The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) has labelled last week's verbal clashes in parliament as crass and boorish, arguing that to have such conduct televised and occur in the presence of students and representatives of the diplomatic corps is deplorable and a stain on Jamaica's image.

There were heated exchanges between members of both sides of the aisle in the Gordon House last Tuesday as parliamentarians clashed over the government's handling of the noxious fumes saga at the Cornwall Regional Hospital in St James.

The back-and-forth was particularly stinging between Member of Parliament for Portland West, Daryl Vaz, and Dr Dayton Campbell, the MP for North West St Ann, with both men exchanging harsh words.

READ: Hooligans! - House Speaker Berates Lawmakers For Unparliamentary Conduct

The chaos was too much for House Speaker, Pearnel Charles, who adjourned the sitting for about 20 minutes to allow tempers to cool off and to restore order to the House.

The PSOJ, in a statement, said it has noted with dismay and concern the crude display of juvenile behaviour in Parliament on April 24, 2018.

“However, to make it worse, it is further alleged to have been a deliberate strategy to subvert the normal process of Parliamentary debate. If this allegation is true it has disturbing implications for the integrity of our democracy,”.

The PSOJ also criticised the leadership inside the parliament.

“the ugly incident has shown up the weakness and lack of control of the Whips of both Parties and indeed of the Speaker of the House,” the PSOJ said.

“We call on the leadership of both political Parties (both of whom were present during the incident and culpable by neglect and participation) to take strong and immediate steps to ensure the non -recurrence of this type of undemocratic, vulgar and embarrassing behaviour”.

“Until we are convinced that order and decorum can be maintained in Parliament during the sectoral debates the PSOJ will send no representatives to Gordon house to participate as spectators”.

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