Senate President, Opposition Senator Clash Over Claims of Unfair Treatment
Senate President Alincia Williams Grant and opposition Sen. Malaka Parker engaged in a tense exchange in the Senate after Parker accused the chair of failing to protect her from repeated interruptions by government senators.
Parker said she had listened quietly while members of the government benches delivered their presentations but was frequently interrupted whenever she rose to speak.
“Every time I have gotten up to speak in this honorable House, since the first sitting, I am interrupted on chorus, without protection from the chair,” Parker said.
Williams Grant strongly rejected the allegation, arguing that Parker sometimes participated in the exchanges with government senators.
“You cannot levy that accusation at my feet,” Williams Grant said. “The banter is something that is part of the process. If you need my protection, you ask for my protection. You don’t tell me that I don’t protect you.”
The Senate president said she provides protection to all members when necessary and described Parker’s accusation as “uncalled for and untrue.”
Williams Grant also cautioned Parker about how she addressed the chair after the opposition senator began the exchange by saying, “Madam President, let me tell you something.” Parker immediately apologised and corrected her language.
The disagreement continued after Parker said she accepted that the two had different views about parliamentary procedure. Williams Grant rejected that characterisation and maintained that senators should directly request the chair’s intervention when disruptions become excessive.
“If you need your protection, if they’re too disruptive, then you let me know and I will stop them,” Williams Grant said.
She added that Parker had previously engaged directly with senators across the aisle instead of addressing her remarks through the chair.
“I’m going to make statements, I’m going to make rulings that people are not going to agree with, but that’s fine. I’m the final arbiter,” Williams Grant said.
Parker eventually ended the exchange and resumed her presentation.
“Thank you for your clarification on that,” Parker said. “I will act accordingly.”
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