Minister of Industry, Commerce and Investment, Karl Samuda, demands an apology from PNP MP Michael Peart for making a disparaging remark about the Prime Minister's constituency. Mr. Peart withdrew the comment.

Gordon House, the seat of the nation's Parliament, descended into a contentious uproar yesterday, after former Speaker of the House, Michael Peart, made reference to Tivoli Gardens, a stronghold in Prime Minister Bruce Golding's constituency, as a "den of iniquity".

Mr. Peart, while debating a resolution to transfer just under $3 billion from the Capital Development Fund for the purpose of budgetary support, made the controversial comment, which he later withdrew.

"This past week has been very interesting. The first thing is that virtually the entire executive of this Government found themselves in a place some would call a den of iniquity, and they talked about prison," he said.

Tivoli rally

He was referring to the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) rally in Tivoli Gardens last Wednesday, where Prime Minister Bruce Golding announced the date for the local government elections.

Member of Parliament for Manchester Southern and former Speaker of the House, Michael Peart, gestures during a sharp exchange with members of the Government yesterday. - Photos by Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

His utterance drew the ire of Government members led by Minister of Industry, Commerce and Investment, Karl Samuda, who rose on a point of order, demanding that the Opposition member withdraw his remarks.

Explaining his point of order, Mr. Samuda accused Mr. Peart of ascribing "unworthy aspersions against an entire community of people by describing the location ... as a den of iniquity. And we object to that and he must withdraw it or he won't be allowed to finish his speech in this House."

At first, Mr. Peart dismissed the call for him to recant, but later withdrew his statement after he was asked by Speaker of the House, Delroy Chuck, to do so.

However, minutes after he withdrew the comment, Mr. Peart was again in trouble for another declaration he made.

"I have been here from 1993. Never has there been any allegation or suggestion of anything named corruption associated with me. So, when I hear the Minister of National Security talking about MPs should go to prison, I am an MP."

On this occasion, National Security Minister Derrick Smith rose on a point of order, denying that he had ever made those comments. He called on Mr. Peart to withdraw the comment.

Mr. Peart apologised for misquoting the minister, saying that by implication, it was clear what he was saying.