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Personal Vs. Political: Boots Steps Over The Line
posted (March 23, 2018)
Now apart from the budget presentations and speeches, there were a number of other issues raised - which had nothing to do with the budget, but a whole lot to do with political slander and name - calling. One that got everyone's attention is when Port Loyola Rep. Anthony Boots Martinez called out his opponent, PUP's Gilroy Usher Sr. for spousal abuse. Well Caribbean Shores Rep. Kareem Musa didn't let that one slide and he fired back.

Hon. Anthony Martinez, Port Loyola Area Rep.
"As a nation we have been greatly disturbed by the horrendous cases of child abuse and domestic violence that have come to the national attention over the past month or so. Particular the cases that resulted in the tragic deaths of baby Allyssa and Linda Emmanuel. Eradicating violence against women and children will take all faucitis of society, working together. It is not a phenome that government must less one ministry can address alone. Nonetheless, the Ministry of Human Development has been diligently working to improve the scope and quality of service that we provide to children and women experiencing violence. Last year the Department of Human Services responded to 1,459 new cases of child abuse and neglect. The Women's Department was involve in 700 new cases of domestic violence. This a apart from the ongoing cases from previous years that still requires our intervention and to that first scenario, one of the lingering 700 cases is that of one Gilroy Usher Sr., who took a pint bottle, whop his wife in her head, in her face. He was charged."

Hon. John Briceno, Leader of the Opposition
"He wants to go down that road, we can go the same way, Madam Speaker."

Hon. Anthony Martinez, Port Loyola Area Rep.
"Madam Speaker, on a point of order. I am stating here this is the facts."

Speaker of the House
"Honorable members let it be very careful. We don't want to add to the prevailing attitude and the whole feeling in the community. Go ahead member. Please, but..."

Hon. Michael Finnegan, Mesopotamia Area Rep.
"When the member from Cayo South was talking and being disrespectful and rude - how you sat down right there and you laugh. I sat down back there and didn't tell you anything - when you throw lick and a man lick you back - you must know how to take lick."

Hon. Anthony Martinez, Port Loyola Area Rep.
"Madam Speaker, I am talking about facts and the facts in regards to the Ministry of Human Development and Social Transformation and they are part and parcel of the people Gilroy Usher Sr., - furthermore to that the court ordered him to go to the Women's Department for battered women's consultation and he has never been there, so apart from that he has defied the order of the court and those are the people who - this in in my purview as the Minister of Human Development, Social Transformation responsible for women and children."

Hon. Oscar Requena
"I'm wondering what that has to do with the budget debate Madam Speaker. The rules are clear"

Speaker of the House
"Honorable member, the point has been made. Thank you."

Hon. Anthony Martinez, Port Loyola Area Rep.
"Madam Speaker, I have taken all the notes that is necessary, but this has to do with the Ministry of Human Development which has a budget for dealing with the issues of domestic violence and the protection of the right of women and children. So if you want to shovel that under the carpet sir, not me at all sir."

Hon. Kareem Musa, Caribbean Shores Area Rep.
"The member of Port need to be reminded of the saying that if you live in glass house, don't throw stones and there is also another saying member for Port that charity starts at home, so if you want to help anybody and I won't call names like you, but deal with the Minister on your side of the house that breaks his wife's windshield. Deal with your minister who somehow converted a government vehicle into a submarine. Deal with your minister who has countless reports of domestic violence against him. If you want to help anybody, start on that side of the house."

The debate is ongoing and usually runs until between 8:00 and 9:00 when the Prime Minister wraps it up.

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