And "patently wrong" is more or less what the Belize Network of NGO's had to say about Leader of the Opposition Shyne Barrow's nasty email to the Speaker of the House, Valerie Woods.
In its statement, the BNN says it supports the call for the Privileges Committee of the House of Representatives to review Barrow's actions. They say respect for the authority of the Speaker is not optional and is not limited to the physical confines of the National Assembly. The release adds, quote, "BNN continues to maintain support for calling out disrespect or slander against ANY woman."
Today the press asked the BNN Senator if there is only selective enforcement of that standard:
Janelle Chanona, Chairperson, Senate Special Select Committee
"I can say that we heard a call go out for the privileges committee to review the action related to that motion, I will say that again it is important as part of our parliamentary proceedings, as part of democracy on a whole, that these things be tested and if it is that some people feel that decorum has been breached and others feel like it hasn't then it is an opportunity for the committee set up to deal with such things, to review that matter and reach a determination so that everyone can be guided because I will share that as part of our governance framework, the BNN is keen on making sure that at all times we use our platform to ensure that the public's perception of what happens in the Lower House, in the Upper House is that of authority, dignity and that the people's business is being treated seriously and if this is an opportunity, you all can probably recount to me more than most all the incidents that you've heard that maybe you've questioned, is that decorum? This is an opportunity for us to look at it and try to land at that definition."
Reporter:
"The criticism is though when was the outcry then, in the past, where was this coming together of the NGOs, issuing a release, making a public statement when for example a minister on the government's side referred to area representative Panton, or told her to sit on a carrot."
Janelle Chanona
"So you're asking me if...?
Reporter:
"Where was the outcry at that point?"
Janelle Chanona
"Yes, so you're asking me if I'm damned if it didn't happen before and I'm damned because we're doing it now."
