The House of Assembly came to a dramatic and abrupt halt yesterday afternoon when members of the governing party banged loudly on their tables in a bid to block Opposition Leader Dr. Hubert Minnis from making a communication regarding the allegation that Agriculture Minister V. Alfred Gray interfered with a judicial matter.

A similar scene unfolded earlier in the day, when members of the opposition sought to disrupt Gray from tabling a document. In both instances, House Speaker Dr. Kendal Major ordered that the House suspend temporarily.

Gray is accused of ordering Mayaguana Island Administrator Zephaniah Newbold to release a convict.

Newbold convicted the man of a minor offense on March 19. When Gray rose to table a document during the morning session, opposition members shouted, "This member must resign", and refused to stop banging on their tables despite several warnings from Major.

Minnis told reporters during the lunchtime break that Gray should not have been allowed to make statements as minister as he should have either been fired or resigned. In a communication to the House, Christie announced that Gray has been relieved of his ministerial responsibility for local government. However, he remains the minister of agriculture and marine resources.

Minnis attempted to make a communication following Christie's announcement, however, Major told him he would first have to present him with an advanced copy of his communication.

Minnis did so during the lunch break and was given the opportunity to speak during the afternoon session.

'Troubling abuse of power' However, Leader of Government Business in the House Dr. Bernard Nottage, Minister of State for Legal Affairs Damian Gomez and Deputy Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis challenged the speaker.

They contended that the rules of the House do not allow for Minnis to make a communication. However, Major said the rules "have not been followed in black and white since the House started".

"I am a creature of the rules but more importantly I am a servant of this House and if I'm going to do right by the Bahamian people it has to appear that I am being fair to allow the members of both sides to speak to an issue that has been topical, important and critical, not adjudicate the matter but air the matter.

"...I have read the statement. The chair has no difficultly. The chair will table it. One of the reasons why I am sitting here is because of my integrity."

After Nottage pointed out that the opposition showed contempt for the speaker during the morning session, Major said, "I get contempt on both sides of this House.

We're not going to go there. "I get contempt on both sides.The Bahamian people get contempt on both sides and if we had listened to what Pastor [Hugh] Roach said this morning and guard our conduct with our speech, then this place would be a different place.

"This is the communication for anybody to see it as they wish.

Now I have ordered the member to make the statement...The government side can respond to the statement."

Minnis, who then rose to speak, said the matter is one of grave importance.

He said Gray stands accused of a troubling abuse of power.

Minnis was only able to say a few more words before government members started banging on their tables.

Major stood, indicating that he wanted to restore order in the House, but members continued to disrupt the proceedings.

It was at that point that he called for the suspension.

When the House resumed about 30 minutes later, the speaker expunged portions of Minnis' statement after Davis and Gray said Minnis used abusive and accusatory language.

Gray said he welcomes the police investigation, maintaining that he is able to defend himself.

"If they speak to allegations I have no problem with that," said Gray, referring to the opposition.

"But as a matter of privilege, it is not fair that they would put on the record of this House things that are not proven to be so because I have not spoken yet and that's not right, Mr. Speaker."

Minnis was allowed to resume his communication but he was interrupted several times as government members challenged portions of his statement.

Nottage said Minnis should not be allowed to accuse Gray of a misdeed. However, Major said he was satisfied with Minnis' statement.

When the dust settled, Minnis charged that nothing but the immediate resignation of Gray from all ministerial responsibilities will suffice.

He said Christie's "half measure is absolutely insufficient".

"The fact is that the member for MICAL has admitted, at the very least, to conduct which calls into question his very suitability for public office."

"...The record is clear. The member for MICAL publicly admitted that he had spoken to the said local magistrate in that magistrate's conduct of a judicial matter.

"The member for MICAL says he was merely offering what appears now to have been unsolicited legal advice."

Standing on a point of order, Gray asked for the speaker's protection. He said he never admitted to interfering with the magistrate.

"It doesn't matter what the press says," Gray said.

"I never said that I interfered with anybody. So Mr. Speaker, that's what I expect to be protected from."

Unaffected, Minnis continued, "The House as the first bastion of democracy must be prepared to demand and to impose the most stringent standards of conduct in defense of our constitution, and our democracy.

Nothing less will do." Also standing on a point of order, Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister Fred Mitchell said Minnis' statement was "offensive, abusive, scandalous" and imputed improper motives on Gray.

He requested that the speaker strike the entire communication from the record.But Major said for him to do so would effectively make "a mockery of this office".

He noted that he gave government members every opportunity to voice their concerns during Minnis' statement.

Major,who was challenged on virtually all of his decisions relating to the matter,suggested that the government could cause him to be relieved of his duties if it wishes.

"The chair is at great pains at times in making a decision like this," he said.

"However,because of the overriding principle of democracy and the voice of the minority being heard,the chair was obliged to hear.

"So this House could determine what it wants to do going forward and the chair will abide by any decision that this House makes and whatever that may be.

The chair takes a stand. This matter is over."

Nottage then moved for the House to suspend until April 15.

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