Minister yellow-carded, ordered out of Parliament

Minister for Multi-Ethnic Affairs, Culture, Heritage and Arts Charan Jeath Singh was issued a yellow card and ordered out of Parliament for an hour and a half this morning after Speaker Filimone Jitoko found him guilty of disorderly conduct during a heated Budget debate exchange with Opposition MPs.

The incident occurred on July 16 during the Committee of Supply debate on the Ministry of Public Enterprises, Multi-Ethnic Affairs, Culture, Heritage and Arts budget.

Mr Jitoko said Mr Singh responded to a question from Opposition MP Premila Kumar in “a very loud and aggressive tone.”

“I find the use of phrases and expressions like ‘you listen to me’ or ‘listen yah’... were unparliamentary and therefore disorderly,” Mr Jitoko said.

A second clash followed when Opposition MP Alvick Maharaj raised a crematorium funding issue at Tuatua Cemetery in Labasa.

Mr Jitoko said Mr Singh accused Mr Maharaj of causing religious division.

“Mr Maharaj exploded, shouting with a loud and strong expression of objection,” he said.

Mr Jitoko ruled that both MPs had breached the Standing Orders. Mr Singh received the yellow card under Standing Order 75 for unparliamentary conduct, while Mr Maharaj was ordered to write a formal letter of apology to the Speaker’s office.

Opposition Whip Jone Usamate had first raised the point of order during the incident, prompting today’s ruling more than a month later.