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…as Opposition demands banning of Kwame McCoy from participating in sittings
…refused to continue with budget estimates
By Lisa Hamilton
The 27th Sitting of the National Assembly was suspended on Thursday after the Opposition stood in protest against the Speaker’s refusal to ban Kwame McCoy from participating,saying his presence in the house was uncomfortable for female APNU+AFC MPs.
On Wednesday, the media widely carried the allegation of Opposition MP Tabitha Sarabo-Halley who reported to the police that the minister hit her to the temple after confronting her while she was on the corridors of the Arthur Chung Conference Center (ACCC) — where Parliament is being held.
While McCoy admitted to engaging in a verbal altercation with Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Keith Lowenfield and later approaching Sarabo-Halley, he denied that any part of his body or any item of his touched her.
On Thursday, the Opposition turned out to the National Assembly but before it could be resolved to the Committee of Supply for the ongoing consideration of Budget 2021 estimates, the Opposition made a request that the Speaker of the National Assembly, Manzoor Nadir said the Standing Orders do not allow.
“In light of the incident that occurred yesterday, which involved Member of Parliament Tabitha Sarabo-Halley and Mr. Kwame McCoy. Sir, the APNU+AFC is requesting that Mr. Kwame McCoy be removed from the precincts of the National Assembly in order for us to proceed with these estimates,” Opposition Chief Whip, Christopher Jones said when he rose to speak.
He told the Speaker that Minister McCoy — who was seated in the House — is not listed as Minister to represent any of the Ministries or Government agencies to come.
Rising on a point of order, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance, Gail Teixeira objected that under the Standing Orders Jones was out of order to speak on the matter. She said that if the APNU+AFC so wishes, they could bring a motion in relation to the matter following the appropriate procedures. Even so, she added that no Member of the Opposition could dictate whether a Minister remains or leaves the National Assembly.
Nadir agreed with Teixeira, he said that he has no power to order McCoy to leave the House without a motion debated and passed in accordance. However, Jones iterated his previous remarks: “As I mentioned before and just to reinforce the point, our female Members of Parliament of the APNU+AFC are uncomfortable with Mr. Kwame McCoy’s presence and, as I mentioned before sir, we will not proceed with the consideration of these estimates unless Mr. McCoy is removed from the precincts of the Parliament.”
The Speaker of the House responded: “Honorable Member, I cannot order/tell any Member how to conduct themselves within the confines of the Standing Order. We’re all here representing people and if some persons feel that’s an appropriate response that they want to engage in then they can. However, your point is noted.”
This response did not suffice the Opposition. The Members then all stood as they did on Wednesday banging on their desks in protest to the Speaker and chanting “Kwame must go”. At one interval, they paused to allow another interaction between the Speaker and the Opposition Chief Whip but this too proved futile.
As the banging continued, the Speaker proposed that he would allow the Opposition to bring a motion which he would set a time later in the day to be heard. However, this, again, did not suffice the Opposition and Nadir announced: “The Assembly is suspended” and left the House.
Sarabo-Halley’s account of what took place was prefaced on her stating that McCoy has been verbally taunting her during Sittings for some time by making negative comments about her hair, her intelligence and more.
However, she said she did not expect what transpired on Wednesday. Giving her account, she said that she left the Committee of Supply to use the washroom when she noticed an altercation between a number of PPP/C MPs and Lowenfield, who was there for the consideration of the estimates.
“I was trying to pass that scene. They were really trying to get at him and he eventually left and Kwame — we were still there — so Kwame approached me with a phone in his hand. Apparently videotaping, I’m not sure what he was doing. He was in my face, less than a feet away from me. So, I raised my hand to block him from recording me and he took his hand with his phone and just chucked me to my left temple and right now my head and my neck is hurting from it,” Sarabo-Halley said on an APNU+AFC programme.
The Opposition MP said that when this transpired she went to the Clerk and Speaker of the National Assembly to report it but was told that the matter is for the police. She said the police was then asked to speak with her and she has given a statement.
Meanwhile, though McCoy admitted to approaching Sarabo-Halley, he denies that any part of his body or any item of his touched her.
“I emphatically and completely deny that I assaulted Ms.Halley as she has alleged or at all. At no time did I touch Ms. Halley with my phone or any part of my body. At the time in question, outside the Parliament Chamber, I had just completed a verbal exchange with Mr. Keith Lowenfield, who attended the Committee of Supply. After Mr. Lowenfield’s departure, I began to speak with Minister Anand Persaud. I observed the presence of Ms. Halley who was approximately 4 feet away from me. We exchanged words but there was absolutely no physical contact whatsoever,” McCoy vowed.
He added: “I urge the Guyana Police Force to fully investigate this matter and institute the necessary charges against Ms. Halley and I am prepared to prosecute any charges vigorously. Additionally, I have observed certain libellous publications on social media by Ms. Halley, of and concerning me and I have advised my lawyers to take all requisite action.”
Camera footage of the period during which McCoy allegedly assaulted Sarabo-Halley on the corridors of the Conference Center has proven unreliable. The police are now relying on the account of eye-witnesses to determine what took place.
On Wednesday evening, Opposition Leader, Joseph Harmon said that all APNU+AFC Opposition MPs have decided to make “certain demands” given that an apology from McCoy will not be adequate. He said the MPs would also decide whether the incident and its resolution will affect their participation in the ongoing consideration of Budget 2021 estimates.
In 2017, according to the Stabroek News, McCoy was found guilty of assaulting rights activist Mark Benschop in March 2011, and he was ordered to pay a fine of $20,000. McCoy was charged with assault, stealing a laptop and damaging a vehicle that belonged to Benschop, on March 5, 2011, at Diamond, East Bank Demerara.
Two other charges against McCoy, for alleged damage to property and simple larceny, were dismissed by city Magistrate Annette Singh.
McCoy was called to lead his defence to the assault charge and told the court that he never touched Benschop. However, Magistrate Singh, in handing down her sentence, told him that she believed the evidence that was presented to her by Benschop.
Before then, in 2012, McCoy was found guilty of committing an assault for gun-butting a man after a row over elections campaign posters. McCoy was found guilty of assaulting and using threatening language on Clifton Stewart, for which he was fined a total of $70,000.
