Earlier in the news, we brought you the debates and discussions from inside the House Meeting. And while things were mostly calmer than usual, sparks flew during the adjournment.
It started when the Leader of the Opposition stood up to speak about various instances he deemed as corruption, including SSB considering a 7 million dollar loan for Pharmacy Express, a company that did not even have a pharmacy license.
Suggesting some insider connection, he noted that this loan would be given to someone he alleges is related to a sitting member of the House.
The principal of Pharmacy Express is Julius Zabaneh, and so the only other Zabaneh in the House - that's Dangriga's Luis Zabaneh - stood up to respond to these comments. However, the prime minister had already responded, and that should have been the end of that matter, as the area rep for Albert pointed out.
But Dr Louis Zabaneh would not let the issue lie and that led to a heated back and forth between the Leader fo the Opposition and the temporary Speaker of the House, Jorge Espat.
Here is a snippet:
Hon. Tracy Taegar-Panton, UDP Albert Rep.
"There is a matter raised by the member from Mesop, there has been a response by the member from Orange Walk Central. The member from Dangriga can raise an issue of national importance as a back bencher, but I am not sure that he can now respond to the member from Mesop. I am sure he can't respond."
Jorge Espat, Speaker of the House
"Member please proceed."
Hon. Luis Zabaneh
"Thank you Mr. Speaker and members, it's just a natural thing that if you are called out and yes, you didnt specify your name."
Hon. Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"Is he raising on a point of national importance? because he cannot respond."
Jorge Espat, Speaker of the House
"We cannot allow two members to be stranding up at the same time. Please member."
Hon. Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"On a point of order. You have to recognize my point of order and you ask to ask me what my point of order is."
Jorge Espat, Speaker of the House
"Leader of the Opposition, you have a member standing up."
Hon. Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"If a member raises on a point of order, that member has to sit and you have to hear the point of order and make a determination."
Jorge Espat, Speaker of the House
"I am not giving you the right of way."
Hon. Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"You are not giving me the right of way to raise a point of order? You can't do that, you cannot do that. You have to respect my point of order. If you don't agree with my point of order, you make a determination and we proceed as such. Are you going to allow me to raise my point of order?"
Jorge Espat, Speaker of the House
"Are you telling me or are you asking me?"
(standing) "Leader of the Opposition, please sit down. Member for Dangriga please continue."
Hon. Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"On a point of order. I have raised a point of order Mr. Speaker, you have to make a determination on my point of order."
Jorge Espat, Speaker of the House
"No. What is your point of order."
Hon. Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"My point of order is the member from Dangriga can only raise on a matter of national importance, he cannot respond to me."
In the end, Dr Zabaneh was allowed to give his points, which he stated was indeed a matter of national importance.
The Speaker of the House, Valerie Woods, missed today's meeting because she is currently at a Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Halifax, Canada along with the president of the Senate, and the deputy speaker of the House.
