Opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) staged a walkout from the House of Representatives moments before tributes to former parliamentarian, the late Leslie Campbell, after attempts to continue debate over the delayed tabling of the Integrity Commission report involving the Firearm Licensing Authority were shut down by the deputy speaker of the House.

The tense confrontation marked the latest development in a growing dispute over Parliament’s handling of Integrity Commission reports, particularly those involving high-profile public bodies and politically sensitive investigations.

The controversy intensified earlier this week after the Houses of Parliament issued a public statement confirming that five Integrity Commission reports had been received for tabling but had not yet been laid in either the House of Representatives or the Senate.

The statement stressed that the reports were being dealt with under Parliament’s “constitutional, legal and procedural responsibilities” and noted that the Integrity Commission Act does not prescribe a specific timeline for tabling such reports.

That position has since attracted criticism from Opposition figures and commentators, who argue that prolonged delays undermine transparency and weaken the effectiveness of the Integrity Commission Act.

Inside Gordon House on Tuesday, Opposition Leader Mark Golding accused Parliament of departing from a 2023 ruling by Speaker Juliet Holness which stated that Integrity Commission reports should be tabled “as soon as possible” after being received.

Golding reminded the House that the ruling was issued after earlier public controversy surrounding delays in tabling reports from both the Auditor General and the Integrity Commission.

“Reports of the Director of Investigation submitted under Section 54 subsection 4 of the Integrity Commission Act will be tabled as soon as possible after receipt by the Parliament, having regard to the serious nature of the matters that are contained therein,” Golding quoted from the ruling.

The Opposition leader noted that the Integrity Commission report concerning the FLA was submitted to Parliament on March 30 and allegedly contained serious findings relating to “governance, maladministration, corruption, etc”, yet remained untabled nearly two months later.

“We are now in mid-May and that report has not been tabled today,” Golding said.

He further argued that Parliament appeared willing to table less politically sensitive reports while withholding the FLA matter from public scrutiny.

“Reports that came to Parliament on Thursday last week, four of them, about relatively junior public servants who didn’t comply with their statutory declaration filing deadlines, those have been tabled today. But a more serious report has not been,” Golding argued.

“The whole purpose and objective of the Integrity Commission Act is thwarted and undermined if the work of the Integrity Commission, its investigative work culminating in its reports, are sent to Parliament and are not tabled on a timely basis,” he said.

Government Business Leader Floyd Green rejected accusations of suppression, insisting that Parliament was acting consistently with established precedent.

“There is absolutely no suppression, there is absolutely no undermining, and there is absolutely no infringement on our democracy,” Green said.

He argued that Parliament had a responsibility to avoid interfering with matters before the courts.

Tensions escalated after Golding attempted to continue speaking on a point of order.

Deputy Speaker Heroy Clarke interrupted him, ruling that he was making a presentation rather than raising a procedural issue.

“Member, you rose on a point of order, but you’re making a presentation. No member, that cannot be allowed,” Clarke said.

Shortly afterwards, Opposition MP Dayton Campbell attempted to contribute but was not recognised by the chair. Opposition members then stood and walked out of the chamber, led by Golding in visible frustration, moments before tributes were due to begin for Campbell.

The walkout adds to mounting tension surrounding the FLA report, which has become a flashpoint in the wider debate over transparency, parliamentary independence and the handling of Integrity Commission investigations.