When
debates opened today, December 7, 2012, around 4.45 PM, on the Bill
extending the mandate of Members of Parliament for three more months,
Hon Ayah Paul Abine raised his name tag among other Members of
Parliament, indicating that he would take part in the debates. From
recurrent malicious antecedents, Ayah even called out for his name to be
taken down.
During debates, everyone who had indicated to
speak was called up except Ayah. The latter raised a point of order
that, by the Standing Orders of the House, he had to be recognized to
address the House. The Speaker was quick to claim on behalf of the
secretary that the secretary had not seen Ayah’s hand. A sizable number
of Members of Parliament booed him as that was the third time during
different sessions that the Speaker had prevented Ayah from addressing
the House, claiming on almost every such occasion that the secretary had
not seen Ayah’s hand. It would be noted that Ayah’s seat is under ten metres from the Speaker (and the secretary) by crow’s flight.
Ayah now requested that, whatever the case, as he was already at the rostrum, he should be recognized for him to address the House. That was spontaneously approved by parliamentarians across the board. Referring to Ayah pejoratively as “ce monsieur” in the like of every primitive and uncouth person, the Speaker ordered Ayah to return to his seat amid cat calls. He went ahead to recognize the Vice Prime Minister who took over the microphone from Ayah.
What was all the more curious was that Mr. Speaker went out of all civility; out of all civilized manner; and out of all parliamentary solemnity to call Ayah, an honourable member of parliament as himself, “ce monsieur”. Every normal human being with the barest minimum scholarship who has been in parliament for over 40 years like Hon Cavaye would be expected to practise minimum etiquette consistent with parliamentary tradition. And it should make no difference that it is Hon Cavaye whose highest diploma is having been in parliament for forty years. The exception compelling accommodation, though, is that a domesticated beast does some day give in to its bestial instincts and bites a person.
Ayah now requested that, whatever the case, as he was already at the rostrum, he should be recognized for him to address the House. That was spontaneously approved by parliamentarians across the board. Referring to Ayah pejoratively as “ce monsieur” in the like of every primitive and uncouth person, the Speaker ordered Ayah to return to his seat amid cat calls. He went ahead to recognize the Vice Prime Minister who took over the microphone from Ayah.
What was all the more curious was that Mr. Speaker went out of all civility; out of all civilized manner; and out of all parliamentary solemnity to call Ayah, an honourable member of parliament as himself, “ce monsieur”. Every normal human being with the barest minimum scholarship who has been in parliament for over 40 years like Hon Cavaye would be expected to practise minimum etiquette consistent with parliamentary tradition. And it should make no difference that it is Hon Cavaye whose highest diploma is having been in parliament for forty years. The exception compelling accommodation, though, is that a domesticated beast does some day give in to its bestial instincts and bites a person.
Any better truth than that if at forty one is still a fool, then one is a certificated fool till doomsday?
Source: Ayah Paul Abine's Facebook page.
First published by Communications & Public Relations,
People's Action Party, PAP
People's Action Party, PAP
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