Speaker of the House of Representatives, Marisa Dalrymple Philibert ruled Wednesday afternoon that the word ‘pussyfooting’ was inappropriate for use in the nation’s Parliament.

The furious speaker made the ruling as Opposition Spokesman on Water and Agriculture, Lothan Cousins, was winding down his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in which he was often critical of Government’s policies on food imports and its strategy on water.

He had earlier accused the government of granting permits for the importation of onions at a time when local farmers can satisfy the market. He also questioned whether the administration was taking steps to privatise water.

“In closing, the time for action is quickly slipping away. We need to better protect our agriculture and water resources. We need to stop pussyfooting around and start putting plan to action,” Cousins declared.

He was about to continue but was cut off by Philibert who loudly interrupted with “hold on, hold a minute, hold on, will you allow me”.

“I’m sure I did not hear what I hear…and if indeed (I heard)…,” the speaker said before her microphone was cut off.

As Cousins snickered, some opposition members of Parliament smiled. Cousins told the speaker that if she was “so offended by the word I will withdraw that word madam speaker and I will say we need to stop beating around the bush”.

Philibert stated that she was not offended; rather, she reminded that the Parliament was the highest court in the land “and that word is inappropriate to be used in here”.

“That is my ruling,” she said.

At this point Opposition Leader Mark Golding rose to his feet in defence of Cousins, declaring that the word was not obscene.

“It is defined as meaning to ‘act in a cautious or non-committal way’. That’s what it means,” Golding interjected.

“So to ask him to withdraw a word that is plain English which is in no way offensive or derogatory, seems very inappropriate to me,” Golding added.

Philibert did not back down and insisted that her ruling stands.

“May I remind you if your memory is very short, there’re words that have been used in this Parliament and recently where we have had the correct meaning given to us as members of Parliament and we have still, as members of Parliament, found it offensive,” she said.

“I’m saying I dare you leader of the Opposition to go into any court and speak to any judge about pussyfooting around. I dare you”.

Golding shot back, telling Phillibert that were Cousins present in court speaking to a judge, “I think to say to the judge that you’re pussyfooting around would be the inappropriate thing to say without a doubt. “But he was making a general comment that we need to stop pussyfooting around and get to action and solve the problems of the serious issues we have with water…”

The insistent speaker retorted: “I have ruled in this Parliament and I’m sure that every judge that sits in this country would not put up with it and this Parliament will not put up with it”.

She received applause from her government colleagues and bemused looks and bickering from Opposition members.

Cousins eventually told Philibert that he accepted her interpretation of the word as well as that provided by the Opposition leader that the word was proper English.

An incensed Philibert demanded to know whether Cousins was withdrawing the word which he eventually did and concluded his presentation.