Speaker forced to adjourn House as Vaz, Campbell clash over Cornwall Regional

House Speaker Pearnel Charles this afternoon adjourned the sitting and stormed out of Parliament after a verbal clash between Member of Parliament for Portland West Daryl Vaz and St Ann North West MP Dr Dayton Campbell.

There was uproar after Vaz suggested that Campbell was conflicted in his utterances about the Cornwall Regional Hospital claiming that the St Ann MP works at a health facility in St James which would benefit from the closure of the hospital.

Vaz charged that Campbell failed to declare his interest in the private facility and as such should recuse himself from the discussion.

"Rubbish," Campbell retorted.

With both men on their feet trading insults, the House Speaker sought to use his gavel to restore order.

Vaz then challenged Campbell to meet him outside the precincts of the chamber.

Campbell attempted to leave his seat but was held back by his colleagues who told him to remain calm.

Charles threatened to close the debate on the issue as the crosstalk and insults spiraled out of the control.

He then rose to his feet calling for order before calling an adjournment for 20 minutes.

The Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition, the leader of government business and his opposition counterpart then went into a meeting and the House sitting later resumed.

Earlier, Campbell responded to a statement by Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton on the health threats at the Cornwall Regional Hospital.

Campbell, in his presentation, accused Tufton of misleading the House in relation to the period within which evacuations began in sections of the hospital.

In his defence, the Health Minister described Campbell's remarks as unbecoming and misleading, charging that his opposition counterpart was seeking to score political points.

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