Kingstown, St. Vincent April 21, 2026 – Debate on a bill in the House of Assembly for the creation of a National Development Bank, was interrupted when the Honourable Israel Bruce, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Transformation, rose on a point of order and accused the Opposition Leader Dr Ralph Gonsalves of misleading the public over the fate of a government supported company.
As the Minister pressed his point, Speaker Honorable Ronnia Durham‑Balcombe intervened to stop the exchange.
“Okay, okay, honorable member, please. You are not to address the opposition leader in that manner,” the Speaker said, directing the Minister to maintain proper decorum.
Later, as the exchange continued, she cautioned him again, “No, no, no, no, no, Honorable Minister of Agriculture, I don’t want to cite you. Please let us maintain the quorum.”
In parliamentary practice, to “cite” a Member of Parliament means the Speaker formally reprimands the member for disorderly conduct. This can involve naming the member in the official record, requiring the withdrawal of remarks, or even resulting in suspension if the House so decides. By stating she did not want to cite him, the Speaker signaled that his conduct was close to breaching the rules but chose not to proceed with formal disciplinary action.
The incident signals the Speaker’s role in halting improper exchanges and ensuring that debates proceed within the rules of the House.