Motion of no-confidence filed against speaker

GEORGE TOWN (CMC):

Opposition Leader Arden McLean and an Independent legislator, Ezzard Miller, on Thursday, filed a no-confidence motion calling for McKeeva Bush to be ousted as Speaker of the House.

The motion was filed almost one month after Bush was convicted on three assault charges following an altercation at a local bar involving the female manager.

This is not the first attempt by legislators to remove Bush. Last year, a similar motion was overruled by deputy Speaker Barbara Conolly on the grounds that it was sub judice. At that time, the case against Bush was still in court.

Last month, the Speaker was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment on each assault charge, to run concurrently, which was suspended for two years.

He was also ordered to adhere to a curfew of 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. (local time), Monday through Sunday, for two months and was fined US$700 for disorderly conduct.

However, it is reported that efforts to remove Bush are highly unlikely.

A no-confidence motion needs two-thirds of the legislators to support it to succeed, which means that if the motion is supported by the entire opposition bench, they will still need five people from government to join them.

Miller and McLean have said that the refusal of the Government of National Unity to take action against their colleague was the primary reason for the motion.