House Speaker Claudius Francis and Opposition Leader Allen Chastanet exchanged heated words during the October 20 sitting of the House of Assembly, with Francis challenging Chastanet to resign as a Member of Parliament if he could not substantiate a claim that the Speaker had threatened to use a bazooka against the United Workers’ Party (UWP).
The confrontation began when Francis invited “the representative of the United Workers’ Party” to speak, prompting Chastanet to take issue with the description, as he attended the sitting wearing a UWP-branded hat.
Chastanet argued that Parliament’s rules and the need for leadership in upholding them should prevent such remarks.
“Parliament is a very serious matter,” Chastanet said. “And one of the things that I would say that separates Parliament from most other institutions in this country is our rules. And it’s very, very important that we show the leadership of following rules.”
Francis, however, reminded the Opposition Leader that the House was considering a resolution and that the matter of his attire could be addressed separately.
“Remember, the rules you’re speaking about also says to deal with what is before you. What is before you is a resolution,” Francis said. “We can deal with your dress and what member of party you are later on. At the moment, what is before you is a resolution on that. These are the rules.”
When Chastanet pointed out that Francis had been the one to refer to him as the UWP representative, the Speaker responded: “You’re the one who dressed like one.”
Francis also suggested that Chastanet had not followed his own advice to others to conduct themselves appropriately.
The exchange escalated when Chastanet referred to a previous statement he attributed to Francis, alleging that the Speaker had said he would use a bazooka to deal with the UWP.
“But that’s not surprising, Mr. Speaker, because remember, it was you who said that you were going to use a bazooka to deal with the United Workers’ Party,” Chastanet said.
Francis rejected the allegation and demanded that Chastanet withdraw it, insisting that he had never made such a statement.
“I will ask you to withdraw that because to speak untruths in Parliament is not permitted. I have never made that statement,” Francis said.
Chastanet maintained that he could substantiate his claim, telling the Speaker: “I’ll be happy to produce the tape, Mr. Speaker.”
Francis then issued a challenge, pledging to resign as Speaker if Chastanet produced a recording of him making the alleged remark. He called on the Opposition Leader to make a corresponding commitment to resign from Parliament if he failed to produce the recording.
“If you produce a tape of me saying I’ll take the United Workers’ Party out with a bazooka, I give my word today I will resign as Speaker of this House,” Francis said. “I want you to give your word that if you don’t get it, you will resign as a member of the House.”
Francis repeated the challenge, insisting that Chastanet should be prepared to face the same consequences if the allegation could not be substantiated.
“I challenge you to produce that tape. And if you produce it, I give my word to this country, I will resign immediately as Speaker,” he said. “I want you to accept the challenge that if you cannot produce it, you will resign from this House.”
Chastanet again said he would provide the recording, but sought to clarify that he had not claimed the alleged statement was made inside Parliament.
“Mr. Speaker, are we dealing in semantics? I said you made those statements. I didn’t say you made those statements in the House,” Chastanet said.
Francis responded that he had not suggested the alleged remark was made in Parliament, but maintained that he had never made it at all.
“I never said I made them in the House. I said I am repeating them in the House today. I never made them. And I challenge you to produce them,” Francis said.
The Speaker continued to press Chastanet to accept his proposed terms, but the Opposition Leader maintained that he would produce the tape.
Francis then told Chastanet: “No, you don’t even have the guts.”
