Speaker upbraids MP for live streaming budget debates

Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Barton Scotland Monday morning upbraided Parliamentarians for recording proceedings of the National Assembly.

Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Priya Manickchand had live-streamed the presentation of Irfaan Ali, who opened the 2019 Budget Debates.

But after Ali concluded his debate, the House Speaker cautioned that the recording of proceedings of the National Assembly by Parliamentarians is prohibited.

Manickchand, however, rose to defend her actions, contending that the Government’s Department of Public Information (DPI) does not publish the Parliamentary Opposition’s views.

She also argued that there is no logical reason for preventing Parliamentarians from recording public sessions since same is already opened for public consumption.

Business Minister Dominic Gaskin, who was the next speaker, contended that the Parliament Office live-streams all parliamentary sessions.

However, Opposition Chief Whip Gail Teixeira contended that the live-streaming did not capture Ali’s full presentation, which lasted 35 minutes.

But the Speaker explained that the live-stream took place from the time the debates began.