Opposition Leader again clashes with Govt in Estimates debate

Leader of the Opposition Ralph Thorne notched up the temperature in the Estimates debates again on Tuesday, accusing the Mia Mottley administration of lying and demanding it “give account” and respond to inquiries from the public, declaring that he will not be swayed by government’s “murmurs”.

In another tumultuous session, Thorne alluded to what he described as “untruths” from the series of debates so far. He did not say what these untruths were but stressed that he remained determined to hold the government accountable for its activities.

“Amidst the murmurs, I am willing to repeat, I caution this government against raining a torrent of politically convenient untruths on the people of Barbados. I have left three days of debates on these Estimates… I have left three days of a debate on various heads within these Estimates, and on every day that I have left, persons whose work relates to government have telephoned me, have met me, and have expressed concern at this government’s propensity for untruths in relation to the administration of affairs for this country,” he said.

Chairman of Committees Peter Phillips moved to rein in Thorne’s comments, cautioning him to use his time wisely while addressing Minister of Agriculture Indar Weir whose ministry was the focus of the day’s session.

Addressing the Christ Church South MP who was a government backbencher a month ago, Phillips said: “I have said to you that you need to address the chair and concentrate on your speech. I do not hear asides and you should not either. Proceed and utilise the time that you have.”

But the opposition leader hit back amid unintelligible sidebars from government MPs. Thorne, at one point, said: “This is a tyrannical government.”

During his opening speech, Thorne had made mention of questions he was hoping to ask Minister Weir, including one on the current state of the marijuana industry. But he pivoted, and once again responded to some of the vocal reactions coming from some of the MPs in the chamber.

“I have given the minister notice and it is interesting that the minister’s reaction to my right to do this is so far different from that of his colleagues who seem worried, who seem upset that the people of this country dare to confront them to ask questions. They must answer, this must give account. Do not resist. Your Honour, I am reserving the right when the time comes to ask those questions of this minister. If it upsets the government that I have dared to accuse them of lying to the people of this country, then so be it,” he said.

When Weir sought to answer the question on marijuana, Thorne stopped him to point out he had not formally asked his question as yet.

Phillips then intervened: “You cannot direct the minister how he chooses to respond, or how he chooses to make his intervention,” he said. “Whether you have asked your question or not… if the minister chooses to respond in any form or fashion, as long as it is in keeping with the rules and standards of this house, he can proceed. That does not stop you from asking whatever questions you need to ask at the appropriate time.”

Thorne replied by saying he was “merely giving him time to prepare truthful answers”.

Weir, who seemed unmoved by the exchanges, defended ministerial information collected by civil servants, stressing that accusing public officers of lying to the public would be a concerning path to take.

The minister said: “The reality of all of this is that I have presented the performance of this sector through what work was done in my ministry to aid the sector to achieve growth. I take umbrage to the fact that any statement would be made following my presentation to purport to be telling lies to the public of Barbados. So I want for this House to be very clear, that everything that I presented from the document before me, was prepared by the public servants of my ministry who will not indulge in telling lies to this country.

“I have great respect for the public servants of Barbados, in particular those in my ministry who I work with every single day. Therefore, for the notion to be carried that lies are being told to the public by public servants, is something that we would have to examine carefully. These documents are the research of public servants, information provided by stakeholders, and this information is then collated and put together for the purposes of these estimates.”

Throne said his accusations related to comments made by ministers and not public servants.

(SB)