Concerns About House Speaker Driven by Looming General Election – UWI Professor

Professor of Culture, Gender and Society at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Donna Hope, says the concern about the prime minister’s wife, Juliet Holness, being Speaker of the House was only raised because the country is nearing a general election. 

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Andrew Holness led a walk out of government members from Gordon House during the budget presentation of opposition leader, Mark Golding.

The walk out was in protest at comments made by Mr. Golding about the spousal relationship between Prime Minister Holness and the House Speaker.

He suggested that the relationship compromised Mrs. Holness’ ability to act fairly and impartially.

Mrs. Holness was elected House Speaker on September 26 last year.

Professor Hope says in this case, there’s the need for constitutional reform as there cannot be an impartial independent House Speaker.

Donna Hope, Professor of Culture, Gender, and Society, at the UWI Mona. She was speaking Wednesday evening on Nationwide at Five.