The Speaker of the House is supposed to be impartial.
Isn’t it odd that the Speaker’s clampdown on questions from the Opposition should be announced in a press release from the Cabinet Office?
And odder still that when …
Asked to clarify the statement attributed to him last night Mr. Lowe said he had only briefly caught a quick glimpse of it and he wanted to look at it again before explaining it.
He did not say who had written the statement and he later called back to say he would be making a ruling on Friday and could not say any more.
Impartial? Or following his doctor’s orders? Let’s be clear - moves like this close the door on accountability and transparency. They are regressive, oligarchic, and just plain wrong. Even worse, they create lasting damage to Bermuda’s institutions.
After 40 years as an MP, I’m not sure Speaker Stanley Lowe wishes this as his legacy. As the Royal Gazette comments:
It is critical that the independence of the Speaker is maintained, and Mr. Lowe, as the most experienced MP in the House of Assembly, will know this better than most. He has an opportunity to reaffirm the independence of the Speaker for future generations and his successors. He should take it.