patriciadeveaux

House Speaker Patricia Deveaux suspended the six Opposition party members from two sittings in the House of Assembly. This follows last week’s session where Deputy Leader Shanendon Cartwright threw the mace from the window of the House.

Speaker Patricia Devaux, in her decision, says she believes the incident severely breached decorum and respect for parliamentary procedures.

Opposition Leader Michael Pintard criticized the suspension, calling it an attempt to silence the voices of the Bahamian people and avert a transparent investigation into alleged government corruption.

“We see this as a continuation of their attempt to silence the Bahamian people. We see this as an attempt by them seeking to avoid transparent investigation by qualified persons locally and internationally looking into corruption not only among a few in the security forces but also in government as well. The people will not be silenced,” Pintard said.

Why it matters?

The suspension suggests a deepening divide between the government and the opposition, raising concerns about the state of democracy and governance in the country.

It underscores the tensions between the ruling party and those who challenge it, and it raises questions about the balance of power and the freedom of elected officials to express dissent within the parliamentary system.

The suspension of the Opposition members is more than a disciplinary measure but can be viewed as a flashpoint in the ongoing struggle for transparency and accountability in The Bahamas.

Deputy Leader of the Free National Movement Shanendon Cartwright threw the mace out of the window of the House of Assembly on Wednesday when House Speaker Patricia Deveaux tried again to silence Party Leader Michael Pintard from speaking after Prime Minister Philip Davis gave an update on the trafficking indictment of senior police officers and announced the resignation of Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander.

When Pintard asked if he would be given an opportunity to address the serious matter this week, Deveaux said she could not say for certain, adding that she would address the possibility of him speaking at a later time, after a speech by the Minister of National Security Wayne Munroe.

Deveaux contended she was going according to the Order of Business.

Pintard, while on his feet was joined by Cartwright who both asked her for an assurance that Pintard would be allowed to make a presentation in the House.

“Let the Bahamian people speak Madam Speaker” Cartwright shouted.

“Will I have an opportunity to speak? Pintard asked repeatedly.

Deveaux then said, “We will get to that when I get to that order of business.”

Without a surety of speaking, Cartwright rushed to the Speaker’s mace which is regarded as her authority, removed it, and threw it out of the window.

This comes on the heel of last week’s session when Deveaux quickly suspended the House and prevented Pintard from speaking on the indictment of senior officers of the Royal Bahamas Police Force and the Royal Bahamas Defense Force expected to stand trial for cocaine transportation in a New York trial.

Patricia Deveaux is quickly becoming parliament’s most controversial House Speaker, outpacing the past Speaker Halson Moultrie, whom many opined lacked decorum when he served in the position.

Deveaux’s recent tirade has thrust her back into the spotlight during the 2022-2023 Budget Debate when she attacked NEMA’s Captain Stephen Russell from her seat, saying that since he was absent from the Bamboo Town constituency in the aftermath of tornadic activity, he must have been “home, busy watching the game (NBA) last night.”

She then suggested that Russell find a day job. “These people, if they want desk job from 9-5, give them their desk job…You tell Mr Russell for me, if he is listening, you need a 9 to 5 job,” she said.

Opposition Leader Michael Pintard later cautioned that comments against Russell should be carefully considered since he was a private citizen and was not in the House to give a response.

Her anger accompanied by neck twirls, finger-pointing, chest-thumping, and a condescending tone, was on full display when she later addressed St Anne’s MP Adrian White after he suggested she read the House’s rule book.

“Don’t do that to me. Don’t insult the intelligence of this Chair…Let me remind you, that I am an adult, one that is older than you. And I have a 25-year-old daughter…So you don’t tell me about being an adult and having children. I fully know how to be that. I know my job, you learn yours,” before jerking her neck and twirling in her seat.

Deveaux, like Moultrie, lacks decorum, and though it is her duty to take charge of debates and keep order in the House, her actions are overbearing and without demureness, the dignity of the Chair which she represents.

Serving as the 55th Speaker of the House of Assembly, she is the second woman to sit as Speaker, following Italia Johnson who served from 1997 to 2002. Johnson was remembered for her gracious and stately approach to the high office.

Deveaux is a bully, using the Speaker’s chair to display unwanted and aggressive behavior and seeking to denigrate the Opposition while throwing her weight around, taking advantage of the power imbalance in the House.

And, the manner in which Deveaux delivers her commentary is troubling. She is ill-tempered, harsh in her language, and possesses a bad attitude.

In 2020 while serving as the PLP’s National Vice-Chair and as a senior executive secretary in the Ministry of National Security, she made headlines after making an ethnic slur at a PLP rally when she said her party has only “nice-looking people” and not a “bunch of darkies all over the place, heating up the place”. She later apologized.

Deveaux simply does not have the temperament required to be a good Speaker.

In the middle of the 2022-2023 Budget Debate, House Speaker Patricia Deveaux scolded the Member of Parliament for Montague, Adrian White for wearing the “wrong color necktie” in the House of Assembly.

White was making contributions to the debate when Deveaux argued an earlier comment made by White in his speech.

“He’s getting out of hand today. And I ain’t even pick on him cause he ain’t even wearing the right color tie today,” she said to FNM Leader Michael Pintard who stood up to request more time for White.

She then turns to White, “Don’t come back here in that–[It’s either] black, grey [or] blue.”

White responded, “My tie is in accordance with the rules, Madam Speaker.”

Deveaux retorts, “It ain’t. Oh no.”

White then emphasizes that the House rules speak to the wearing of “dark color suits” only.

Deveaux seeks clarification from the House clark and then reiterates, “Dark colors, okay.”

Fort Charlotte MP Alfred Sears then stands to his feet to support Deveaux while reading from the rule book:

“Rule 93 says the dress of the members of the House including the Speaker at sittings shall be dark suits with ties for men and dark business suits or dress for women provided on state or formal occasions.”

He added, “The tie must be consistent,” before sitting down.

Defending himself, White said other ministers were seen wearing yellow ties in the past to which Deveaux said, “Not in here. Not under my watch. Now you cut it out.”

She then impressed upon White to button his jacket.

At the conclusion of his speech, he showed Deveaux an image of a PLP member wearing a yellow necktie.

Bamboo Town MP Patricia Deveaux was appointed the new Speaker of the House of Assembly and presided over her first session on Wednesday, during the Opening of Parliament.

In her opening address, Deveaux said she will ensure timeliness, order and fairness in the House.

She follows Former Speaker Halson Moultrie, who has been described as the most controversial speaker in Bahamian history.

Here’s what to know about Deveaux

1. She is the 55th Speaker of the House Assembly.
2. Deveaux is the second woman House Speaker in Bahamian history, after Italia Johnson.
3. She served as the PLP’s National Vice-Chair and as a senior executive secretary in the Ministry of National Security.
4. She made headlines in 2020 after making an ethnic slur at a PLP rally when she said her party has only “nice-looking people” and not a “bunch of darkies all over the place, heating up the place”. Deveaux later apologized.
5. She will be assisted in her role by Deputy Speaker Sylvanus Petty, the North Eleuthera MP.