A motion seeking to censure the Government over Jamaica’s abstention on a United Nations resolution against the US embargo on Cuba triggered heated exchanges in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, culminating in a stand-up protest and the adjournment of the sitting.

The motion, submitted by Opposition MP for St Andrew Western Anthony Hylton, was accepted for debate by Speaker of the House Juliet Holness, who ruled that it would be debated on Tuesday, despite the Opposition’s preference for the matter to be taken at the next sitting.

Hylton opened the debate by outlining the Opposition’s objections to the Government’s handling of the policy change, arguing that Parliament should have been informed that the administration was considering departing from Jamaica’s longstanding position before the matter was discussed in the House.

The motion seeks to have Parliament formally censure the Government for failing to disclose the proposed change during the October 27 debate on Cuba’s economic and humanitarian situation.

It also calls for the Government to apologise to the House and provide a detailed account of the decision-making process, including who authorised the abstention, when instructions were sent to Jamaica’s representative at the United Nations, and whether Cuba was consulted or amendments to the resolution proposed before the vote.

Tensions escalated after Leader of Government Business Floyd Green responded to Hylton’s arguments. After completing his contribution to the debate, Green called on the Speaker to bring the debate to an end, prompting objections from Opposition members who wanted the discussion to continue.

The disagreement developed into a stand-up protest, with Opposition members rising from their seats in objection to the proposed closure of the debate. The protest disrupted proceedings as members on both sides engaged in heated exchanges.

Following several moments of back and forth, the sitting was adjourned.

However, the tension continued after the formal proceedings had ended, with a further confrontation involving MP for Manchester North Eastern Mikael Phillips and Government MP Desmond McKenzie.

The motion at the centre of Tuesday’s dispute follows Jamaica’s October 28 decision to abstain from the annual United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for an end to the US economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba.

READ: Shift in policy

The abstention marked the first time Jamaica had not voted in favour of the resolution since it was introduced in 1992.

The Opposition argues that the Government failed to disclose its intention to change the country’s voting position during the October 27 parliamentary debate, despite having been reflecting on the matter for some time.

Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith acknowledged that the abstention represented a shift in policy but defended the decision, saying Jamaica continued to oppose unilateral restrictions while believing that the annual resolution had not achieved its intended purpose.

She said the Government favoured a broader approach involving dialogue between Washington and Havana, economic and institutional reforms in Cuba, and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The Government has also maintained that the motion debated in Parliament on October 27 did not instruct it to vote in favour of the UN resolution or bind the executive to a particular voting position.

The UN General Assembly adopted the resolution on October 28, with 130 countries voting in favour, 17 against and 25 abstaining.

Although the resolution is not legally binding, it has for decades provided a platform for countries to express opposition to the US embargo.

– Jerome Williams