'I BEG TO MOVE' BLUNDER
An embarrassing misstep in Parliament has left Opposition Leader Pennelope Beckles, Arima MP unable to present her own motion. Her motion sought to condemn Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar’s foreign policy stance. After reading the motion’s text, Beckles immediately said, prompted by MP Gonzales quote…“I beg to move” end quote and sat down—a phrase that, according to Standing Orders, signals the end of a member’s presentation. Speaker Singh recessed the sitting for 10 minutes and concluded upon resumption that the standing orders left him no discretionary ability
