[Videos] PPP/C MPs clash with cops over Edghill ejection

PPP/C MP Juan Edghill (right in spectacles) being shielded by fellow MPs as the police attempted to evict him from Parliament Chambers yesterday. PPP/C Chief Whip Gail Teixeira is at centre. (Keno George photo)

Photos by Keno George

The start of the consideration of the estimates of the revenue and expenditure for 2018 descended into chaos yesterday when opposition MPs faced off against police over a bid to physically remove member Juan Edghill from the parliament chamber and PPP/C members claim they were assaulted in the ensuing melee.

Edghill’s staunch refusal to comply with a directive to immediately withdraw by Speaker Barton Scotland, who deemed him “out of order,” ultimately resulted in the adjournment of the proceedings but nonetheless he and fellow opposition parliamentarians remained in the chamber up until 10pm, when the sitting was originally slated to end. By that time, the power had already been shut off and as a result there was no air conditioning or Wi-Fi in the chamber.

“This is a matter of principle. The government don’t want scrutiny,” Edghill claimed yesterday and a similar line was taken by other PPP/C members, including Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo.