Thwaites (left) and Chuck.

IF the House of Representatives were a school, Ronald Thwaites would have emerged a leading student in the sittings of Parliament, concluded just before the Christmas break. James Robertson would have been placed in the naughty corner.

From serious political debates to the exchange of barbs across the floor, Parliament is colourful.

The Sunday Gleaner's analysis of Hansard - the official records of Parliament - as well as observation of parliamentary sessions between October 2 and December 18, reveal that just over a dozen Members of Parliament (MPs) in the 60-seat chamber, rose to make meaningful contributions.

Thwaites, though, was the leading light as he figured prominently at every sitting. Representing the Central Kingston constituency for the Opposition People's National Party (PNP), Thwaites gave notices of motions for the House to look at the housing stock in Central Kingston, compulsory registration of all fathers, and proposed legislation to make the roads safer. Thwaites also suggested that the legislature debate ways in which tenants and occupants of premises in blighted rural and urban areas could be assisted to acquire, re-novate, reconstruct or become owners of their homes, at affordable prices.

Regarding education, Thwaites suggested that the House, with the assistance of expert opinion, debate the need for a national nutrition policy and review the existing public-school nutrition programme. Thwaites also moved that the legislature aim to get national consensus around the modalities required to provide access to reasonable housing for all people.

He called for an amendment of the Education Act and the establishment of codes to ensure that students master each level of the school system before they are promoted. In addition, he asked the House to mandate and fund necessary remedial programmes and supervise assistance in order to remedy underperformance.

Vital commodities

Another vocal member of the Lower House was Karl Samuda, Minister of Industry and Commerce. Recognising the impact that the theft of material for the scrap-metal trade could have on the society, Samuda rushed to Parliament and put legislation in place to regulate the industry.

Samuda also addressed Parliament on the shortage of rice and cement, two vital commodities, of which there were shortages.

Dr. Christopher Tufton, Agriculture Minister, made strong submissions on the adverse effects of Hurricane Dean on the agricultural sector, hurricane-recovery programmes, as well as the diversification of the sugar industry. Opposition members Roger Clarke and Peter Bunting, as well as Dr. Omar Davies, always weighed in on these matters.

Also very vocal in the House over the period was East Portland MP, Dr. Donald Rhodd. He asked questions about the drainage and sewage project in Portland and the development of eco and heritage tourism in the parish.

Dr. Rhodd also gave notice of a motion for the legislature to consider implementing a mandatory training and mentoring programme for at-risk youths.

Samuda suggested that the House debate and take steps to address deplorable road conditions in Portland, St. Mary and St. Thomas. On one occasion, when Dr. Rhodd stood to speak, government member James Robertson, who represents Western St. Thomas, quipped: "What a way you start asking question! I thought you were dumb!"

Robertson and new MPs Robert Montague, Michael Stern and Daryl Vaz fit neatly into the "naughty corner." While Stern's name has not featured in Hansard, Montague and Robertson have less-than-glowing comments beside their names. This also applies to Opposition member and PNP chairman Robert Pickersgill. According to Hansard, he only contributed to the House by way of side-talks.

Misbehaving

Pickersgill once pulled rank on Montague who was 'misbehaving' by commenting: "Hey Bobby, dis a no parish council, you know. Behave yuself!"

Speaker of the House Delroy Chuck once told Montague - the former mayor of Port Maria - "You are not in Port Maria."

The gavel normally follows the voice of Robertson, but this does not bell the government member, who often makes comments that interrupts the Opposition.

However, Opposition member Noel Arscott has not allowed himself to be bullied. He once told Robertson, who was heckling him, that "the people sent me here, not you. Learn that ... (and) by a good margin".

At one sitting, Deputy Speaker Marisa Darymple-Philibert begged for discipline after her beating of the gavel went unheeded: "Members, please. This is not Sunday School. I believe we must conduct ourselves with a certain amount of decorum, please."

Most vocal MPs