Opposition members disrupted the start of today’s sitting of the National Assembly with loud calls for Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill and Minister of Public Utilities and Aviation Deodat Indar to resign, forcing Speaker Manzoor Nadir to suspend proceedings for five minutes.
The protest began shortly after Nadir called for a moment of silence in honour of those who died and the survivors of the horrific MV Barima tragedy.
“Who must go? Edghill and Indar,” opposition members chanted as the Speaker repeatedly struck his gavel and called for order so that the business of the Assembly could proceed.
Nadir then called on Clerk of the National Assembly Sherlock Isaacs to read the prayer, but the sustained chanting prevented him from doing so.
The Speaker subsequently invited Attorney General Anil Nandlall SC to read a message from President Irfaan Ali, but the chants grew louder.
Nadir then announced that the sitting would be suspended for five minutes.
When the sitting resumed, Nandlall began reading the message but the opposition continued to bang their desks and chant to drown out what he was saying.
Nandlall read his message through the cacophony and then Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh rose to present reports but the opposition continued their protest. They then congregated in the centre of Parliament Chamber. All three opposition groups, WIN, APNU and FGM are participating in the protest.
Relatives of some of the survivors were present at Parliament today and there was a verbal confrontation between Prime Minister Mark Phillips and Hadiyyah Mohamed, the sister of Opposition Leader, Azruddin Mohamed. In a recorded video she accused Phillips of raising his voice on her.
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