But, we didn't know all that was happening when we spoke to Shyne Barrow this morning in our studio. We asked him for his account of what happened on Friday - when he was removed from the house meeting under the supervision of the Sergeant at Arms. It's not a good look for the leader - but neither is it for the Speaker of the House - who was visibly angered by the LOO.
Today we broke it down scene by scene with Barrow:
Jules Vasquez
"What do you think now of the speaker's decision? Was she right to have ejected you?"
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"You know, I believe it was an erroneous decision set in place by and an erroneous ruling. If you've had the opportunity to review the standing orders, she was absolutely wrong. I made it abundantly clear that I was seeking clarification even when I was standing. That's what I stood on. That was a point of order. Then when I sat, I said, I'm seeking a clarification because the member."
Jules Vasquez
"Standing orders say "elucidation.""
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"Elucidation. What does elucidate mean? To clarify. So again, if you want to be technical, because I didn't use the word elucidate, I think she knows better. The point is, when a member is saying something in regards to another member, the member has a right, according to the Standing Orders, to clarify, to elucidate. She should have allowed him to say, "no, I don't want to yield and I would have sat down. The fact that she made an erroneous ruling and then as the referee, she blow the whistle. Then she got in the game and tried to play defense, in my view, by taking what I felt was a jeering shot at me, by saying that, well, we could go over the Standing Orders and I know 37 (b) is there whether I use elucidate or clarify they mean the same thing. And so I told her, "Come on, you know, you know, better than that, man, be polite" and then she insisted she could go over it with me. And then I said to her, "Don't behave like the PUP's who always take personal, petty shots rather than focus on the substance. And I have no regret for that. She told me to withdraw it. I don't see how I would be asked to withdraw something that is not on the record. I don't think telling someone not to act like a PUP rises to the occasion of gross misconduct. Worse things have been said."
Jules Vasquez
"So after that, she then directs the Sergeant at Arms to eject you? Yes. It has to flash through your mind. I can either go full Julius on this, hold my ground, or I can take a more dignified exit."
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"Yes, absolutely. To not be like Julius Espat. He was wrong. Whenever it arises that the speaker makes a decision, There is a procedure to handle that. And so I don't believe in violating the procedures."
Jules Vasquez
"However, I am told that police officers at the same time were preparing to come down and enforce her order. Were you aware of that?"
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"I mean, again, I had no intention to do not leave the house. So if that is what she I think she…I think she was premature to to call the police."
Jules Vasquez
"So she did call the police?"
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"Yes. And that is and again, that's a violation of the standing order, because the standing order puts the sergeant at arms. The police is under the direction of the sergeant of arms. So what she's supposed to do if it gets to the sergeant of arms asking me to withdraw was enough, but she asked me to withdraw and then immediately call the sergeant of arms to enforce."
Jules Vasquez
"Would you accept, though, that you got triggered? Certain things are known to trigger you. Right, that he triggered you for grandstanding and not knowing your stuff. Then she at the same time infantilizes you and says that, hey, I can show you after because obviously you need help. Would you accept, though, that you can be triggered?"
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"I mean, all human beings can be triggered, but I mean, at the end of the day, it's about proportionality. You know, it's about context. And then again she made a wrong ruling and and did what they do. Their strategy is that you're stupid, you're dumb, you don't know what you are talking about. The only person smart in the room is John Briceno."
"And I believe you said that you could see how I would interpret her statement as her saying I'm some special needs child. And, you know, like she will go over the standing orders with me."
Jules Vasquez
"It has to be an embarrassment, though, because, you know, usually when someone is shown out of the house or walks out of the house, most times, especially if it's a leader, his, his or her followers will go behind. But when you gone, only your shadow was behind you."
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
"Yeah, well, I, I don't make, I don't make much of that do I can't get into the mind of the member from Alberts so I don't take it as anything against me. You have to ask her."
We did reach out to the speaker for comment, but up to news time, she had not responded.
