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Can Senate Remove The Macebearer?
posted (May 24, 2017)

So, how will the Senate Select Committee address the continued presence of Brian "Yellowman" Audinett, if he decides to come back to the hearings? He is an officer of the National Assembly, but the press has asked that he be banned, and today the opposition asked the Speaker to fire him.

Salazar said that committee will have to meet as whole and come up with a decision:

Hon. Aldo Salazar - Chairman, Senate Select Committee
"Definitely that cannot be continuance, we need to go about this in a proper manner and your letter will receive and like I said this select committee, I don't control it you know, in fact I am the one that has least control over it. It is controlled by the social partners and the opposition, they are the majority so the direction that this committee is taking, the consideration of your letter is going to be by the committee on a whole, it's not my decision. So even though my view is that we cannot have that sort of activity in the house, in the chamber; it is something that is going to be considered by the entire committee not by myself."

Reporter
"In retrospect do you consider that you acted as forcefully as you should have? I think your also taking some slack for the fact that you went out and tried to or appeared to try to calm these individuals who were still intent on returning back to the gallery."

Hon. Aldo Salazar
"I understand that I take slack but I have broad shoulders that come with not necessarily politics, I said I'm not a politician but I'm politically appointed that comes with it. That doesn't bother me but like you said if I in retrospect if I'd do things differently, I think we need to understand that the situation is fluid - when things happen at that moment we react in how we think is appropriate at the time, I only saw one policeman and that is the way I reacted and to mull over it is really an exercise in futility."

In his letter today, Opposition Leader John Briceno reminded House Speaker Laura Longsworth that when she first took up the Speakerâ€â„¢s Chair, she asked that the National Assembly conduct business with decorum. From there, Briceno reasons that Audinett's behaviour last week makes him unfit to keep the post.

His letter says, quote,"We are all reminded that Standing Order 6 (2) of the House of Representatives states that the "Mace is the symbol of the dignity and authority of the Speaker of the House." Not only should the Mace represent your "dignity" and "authority," Madame Speaker, but by extension the Macebearer. It is in light of the aforementioned, I am compelled to demand the forthright termination of Mr. Brian Audinette as Macebearer and Sergeant at Arms. His actions and unapologetic disregard for the responsibilities he assumes make him unfit to hold such a privileged position."End quote.

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