Written by: Patrice Walters and Markelia Rumble

Member of Parliament Dr. Angela Brown Burke has called for a review of parliamentary mechanisms to ensure that members are recognized and can speak during important discussions.

This was outlined in the written personal explanation she planned on making regarding the mace touching incident in parliament last week Tuesday.

She intended to deliver the explanation during yesterday’s sitting of parliament.

The Opposition said House Speaker Juliet Holness failed to acknowledge and facilitate the personal explanation.

In the copy issued to the media, Dr. Brown Burke again accepted that removing the mace was a breach of longstanding parliamentary convention and of the respect due to the house.

She said the act was born of deep and growing frustration because during the discussions of the NaRRA Bill, she made several attempts to be heard on the matter, but was ignored and disregarded.

The St. Andrew South West MP said when ordinary procedures failed to allow an elected representative to participate, she took a step she would not otherwise have taken to register the seriousness of the situation.

Dr. Brown Burke said her intent was never to show disrespect to the institution; her purpose was to draw attention to a system that, in practice, denies members a fair and reasonable opportunity to contribute when legislation will have far-reaching consequences.

And, at the end of her Sectoral debate contribution in the house yesterday, Dr. Brown Burke used the opportunity to highlight her concerns.

In meantime, Government Senator Marlon Morgan says Dr. Brown Burke’s failure to apologise during her Sectoral debate contribution yesterday is unacceptable.

He argues, that Dr. Brown Burke should have used the opportunity to express contrition over her conduct in parliament last week Tuesday.