In an unexpected turn of events, a parliamentary session in the Bahamas was temporarily halted when an opposition MP hurled a ceremonial mace out of a window.
The incident involved Shanendon Cartwright, the deputy leader of the opposition, whose actions led to a chaotic scene requiring police intervention. During the ensuing turmoil, the deputy speaker was accidentally struck and subsequently hospitalized, while a police officer sustained a leg injury, as detailed by Speaker Patricia Deveaux.
Local reporting indicates that the disorder was ignited when Speaker Deveaux denied Opposition Leader Michael Pintard the opportunity to address claims related to a U.S. indictment, which accused federal Bahamian police of participating in drug trafficking activities. This denial led to heightened emotions, culminating in Cartwright’s dramatic action.
The act of throwing a ceremonial mace carries significant historical weight in the Bahamas. It echoes the events of 1965, when an opposition leader similarly tossed the mace out of a window to demand electoral reforms, a moment that has since been referred to as “Black Tuesday.”
This recent disruption in the Bahamian parliament underscores the persistent tensions within the political arena, highlighting the historical patterns of protest that continue to influence the nation’s legislative proceedings.
Source: BBC
