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Bermuda House Speaker reprimands legislators’ “childish behaviour”

Published:Monday | August 13, 2018 | 2:34 PM
Bermuda's Speaker of the House of Assembly Dennis Lister- Royal Gazette Photo/CMC

HAMILTON, Bermuda,  CMC – Bermuda's Speaker of the House of Assembly Dennis Lister has rebuked legislators for behaving like a “classroom of schoolchildren” after photographs were taken of members sleeping during a recent sitting and posted on social media sites.

Lister said that any legislator caught violating their privileges with the use of laptops would have their devices confiscated by the Sergeant-at-Arms.

The use of recording equipment is forbidden under House of Assembly rules.

Images which appear to show ministers and members of parliament snoozing on the floor of the House were published on social media recently.

Among those captured on camera were Opposition Leader Jeanne Atherden and Minister of Public Works David Burch.

The camera angles of some of the images suggest they were taken on the floor of the House, while others appear to have been taken from the public gallery.

Lister said he had “no issue with members who seem to have closed their eyes for a moment”.

But, he added “it’s photography that’s the issue. We are all supposed to be adults in here — I do not expect childish behaviour.”

Lister said circulating pictures online was “not of the proper decorum”, and vowed to use a “heavy hand” over the taking of pictures and use of social media while the House was in session.

“Any member tweeting in the House is out of order,” he said, warning legislators not to behave like “a classroom of schoolchildren”.

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