KINGSTON, Jamaica – Members of the opposition People’s National Party (PNP), walked out of the Parliament Tuesday afternoon after the Government blocked a motion of no-confidence which appeared to target Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

Golding’s motion essentially declared that the prime minister had breached the Ministerial Code of Conduct and called for his censure. The opposition leader has previously called for Holness to resign over his uncertified statutory declarations, and the decision by the Integrity Commission to ask the Financial Investigations Division (FID) to further probe the prime minister’s business dealings after it was unable to determine whether the head of government had engaged in illicit enrichment.

He has also accused the prime minister of failing to inform Jamaicans that he was under an illicit enrichment probe, a matter Holness has threatened to sue members of the opposition over. The lawsuit hangs on when Holness was notified that he was under investigation.

Golding began to introduce his motion by stating that “…the prime minister did not inform the people of Jamaica that he was being investigated by the Integrity Commission…” but was quickly shut down by Deputy Speaker Heroy Clarke with “member, member, please”.

Member of Parliament (MP) for Clarendon South Eastern Pearnel Charles Jr, was quick to his feet stating “I don’t even need to hear another word”.

“If the member in any way intends to go down a road,” Charles Jr added before he was interrupted by an Opposition member to whom he responded “you can’t understand if you don’t listen, permit yourself to use your ears and not yuh mouth,” as things became testy quite quickly.

“If it is that the member intends to travel down a road that is going to breach the standing orders, in raising matters that are sub judice, that cannot be accommodated in this House, if that is the intention, stop now,” Charles Jr declared to applause from his government colleagues.

Clarke, who was temporarily occupying the speaker’s chair, quoted from section 22 of the standing orders which states that “If the speaker is of the opinion that any notice of a motion which has been received by the clerk infringes the provision of any standing order, or is in any way out of order, he may direct that the member concerned be informed that the notice of motion is out of order”.

In such a scenario, the motion will be entered in the order paper with the necessary corrections as directed.

Clarke then quoted from Erskine May’s Parliamentary Practice which speaks to the rules governing Parliament. He referenced the rule which states that matters before the court, or under judicial consideration, should not be discussed; they are sub judice. He then declared the motion brought by Golding to be “out of order” adding that “I am now ruling that this motion will not be entertained”.

Golding rose to his feet and attempted to continue, telling Clarke he was not aware that the matter was sub judice.

“What this motion engages, is simply a matter of a breach of the ministerial code of conduct by the prime  minister …,” said Golding before he was shut down by Clarke and agitated Government MPs who have closed ranks behind Holness since the damning IC report was made public.

Golding then led a walkout of opposition members as Clarke insisted that he would not be heard. Government MPs applauded as they exited the chamber.