North West Manchester Member of Parliament, the People’s National Party’s Mikael Phillips, had to be physically restrained by fellow parliamentarians during a heated exchange with West Kingston MP, the Jamaica Labour Party’s Desmond McKenzie, shortly after Tuesday’s bad tempered sitting of the House of Representatives was being adjourned.
In videos shared widely on social media, Phillips can be seen standing in the aisle between the government and opposition benches, while McKenzie is standing at his seat.
The two MPs are seen arguing and gesticulating wildly at each other. But it’s difficult to hear what each man was shouting amid the noise inside the chamber.
Phillips is then seen moving towards McKenzie.
Fellow MP, Pearnel Charles Jr. gently holds him back and moves him away, but the shouting continues.
Opposition Leader Mark Golding and other MPs place themselves between the quarrelling pair.
At all times McKenzie is standing in place, behind the desk, where his seat is located.
Phillips meanwhile, who’s walking the aisle, is seen at one point appearing to charge at McKenzie, shoving aside Mark Golding in his attempt to do so.
But several MPs from both sides block his path and he’s eventually led out of the chamber.
There are unconfirmed reports that a rebuke from McKenzie towards Phillips about his language and tone towards House Speaker, Juliet Holness, sparked the ugly exchange.
The incident came at the end of a stormy sitting, which the Speaker adjourned after Opposition members protested her decision to close the debate on their censure motion concerning Jamaica’s United Nations vote on Cuba.
Meanwhile, Deputy Leader of the House, Robert Morgan, says Mikael Phillips unleashed a volley of expletives, when asked by Desmond McKenzie to show respect to House Speaker, Juliet Holness.
Morgan is condemning the conduct of Phillips and his colleagues on the opposition benches in the House.
According to Robert Morgan, the behaviour of the Opposition will not be condoned.
Robert Morgan, Deputy Leader of the House of Representatives.
