00:00The Speaker of the House of Representatives also chairs the
00:03Standing Finance Committee. On Tuesday the committee continued its detailed
00:07examination of the government's budget for the 2025 financial year. The Speaker
00:13set some ground rules. I'm going to ask all members here today to also bind
00:20themselves to the successful modus operandi we employed for the past two
00:29days so I don't expect to get any complaints from either side about people
00:38being disrespectful, intolerant, rude, obnoxious. We have business to do. The
00:48members of the committee are also the elected members of the House of
00:51Representatives. The Speaker issued her instructions to them on Tuesday less
00:56than a week after a hot mic incident which occurred on an evening late last
01:00week just as the House of Representatives was winding up its
01:04debate of the 2025 budget. A clip of that incident has gone viral on social media.
01:10The following is what TV6 News recorded from the live broadcast of the
01:14Parliament Channel as opposition members walked out of the lower house
01:17chamber when the wind-up of the budget debate commenced. Thank you very much Mr.
01:23Deputy Speaker. I am, let me wait on Madam Speaker.
01:30She's going to run the girls in the bathroom. She can't use the PTSC buses anymore but she's going to bring the girls for all of you now, including Kamla.
01:41You're going to use the bathroom? Yeah, she's going to use the bathroom.
01:45What wrong with you? Don't call my name. What wrong with you?
01:51What follows is a word that we are not sure we can air on television. Soon after
01:57there was another moment which resulted in an intervention by the Speaker. Thank
02:03you very much Madam Speaker. I am not sure why the leader of the opposition
02:11has left the house. I hope it's a bathroom break. But, what happened? No, let's don't go down that road, okay? So, you know, you know, I really, you know, want to try and lift this to another place, all right?
02:34I am sorry Madam Speaker, I apologize. I was thinking of the only logical reason, but I apologize. I apologize. I apologize.
02:41Following initial instructions for the conduct of the Standing Finance
02:44Committee on Tuesday, the House Speaker later repeated and updated them. So, this
02:50year we have a map 4, which one is the Karen A, the Marabout, the member for
02:58Pointer Pier. I notice he's not saying because he knows his river mouth is being
03:02addressed. So, we are working on it, but it's a program. All can be done at the same
03:06time. Can you provide us with a list of that four? I'll be providing it based on as we go forward, yes.
03:11Just listen to me. Now, remember, Oropuchese, you came in a little late, so you may not have
03:21understood the ground rules today. Respect, tolerance, no innuendos. Later, there was
03:31this moment as the Standing Finance Committee began its examination of the
03:352025 allocation to the Energy Ministry. I will now invite the Minister of Energy
03:40and Energy Industries to make a brief opening statement, not exceeding five
03:45minutes. Minister. Thank you very much Madam Chair. Just making sure that the
03:49mic is on. The Energy Minister then continued with his opening statement.
03:55Once the Standing Finance Committee completes its proceedings, the Senate
03:59will commence its debate of the 2025 budget.
04:03Jules Brown, TV6 News.
Comments