Contributed By Anthony Fisher
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| Anthony Fisher |
The events that unfolded in Jamaica’s Parliament on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, have raised serious questions about parliamentary discipline, respect for authority, and the standards of conduct expected from our elected representatives.
What Jamaicans witnessed at Gordon House was deeply concerning. Parliament is one of our country's most important democratic institutions. It is where national policies are debated, legislation is examined, the government is held accountable, and the interests of ordinary Jamaicans are supposed to be represented. It should never become a battleground for personal confrontations, verbal abuse, or physical altercations.
The conduct involving Opposition MPs Mikael Phillips and Dr Angela Brown-Burke deserves serious examination, and there must be accountability where breaches of parliamentary standards are established.
Let us examine the two incidents.
Mikael Phillips, an Apology Does Not End the Question of Accountability.
The video footage circulating on social media shows Mikael Phillips involved in a heated confrontation following the adjournment of Parliament. He was seen using expletives and moving aggressively towards Government MP Desmond McKenzie, requiring the intervention of other parliamentarians.
Phillips has since acknowledged using an expletive and apologized to the Jamaican people. However, he has also alleged that McKenzie made offensive remarks about his deceased mother, which provoked his reaction. McKenzie has disputed that account.
While nobody should dismiss the possibility that offensive remarks were exchanged, there is a fundamental principle that every elected representative must understand: provocation does not remove personal responsibility.
Our parliamentarians are expected to exercise restraint, particularly when tensions are high.
If ordinary Jamaicans are expected to conduct themselves professionally in their workplaces, why should those elected to represent the country be exempt from comparable standards of behaviour?
An apology is important, but the parliamentary authorities must still examine the circumstances and determine whether the conduct violated the rules and standards of the House.
The Circulating Videos With Dr. Angela Brown-Burke Raise Serious Questions
The incident involving Dr Angela Brown-Burke and Speaker Juliet Holness is equally concerning.
The videos circulating on social media show Brown-Burke making physical contact with the Speaker as Juliet Holness was leaving the parliamentary chamber. The footage visibly shows their shoulders colliding during the encounter.
This is important because the matter should not be dismissed as merely a verbal disagreement. Brown-Burke has denied shoving the Speaker but has acknowledged making the insulting remark, calling her a coward.
The Speaker has alleged that she was shoved. That allegation deserves an impartial investigation, with the available video footage forming part of the evidence. The public deserves answers to some important questions:
- Why did the confrontation reach the point of physical contact?
- Was Brown-Burke’s positioning and conduct consistent with parliamentary conventions?
- Was the Speaker subjected to inappropriate physical interference while leaving the chamber?
- What do the complete video recordings establish about the sequence of events?
The fact that the Speaker occupies the highest presiding position in the House makes this matter particularly important. The office must be respected, regardless of political differences.
No parliamentarian should be allowed to intimidate, obstruct, or physically confront another member of the House.
Let us stop the political double standards.
One of the biggest problems in Jamaican politics is the tendency to defend unacceptable behaviour when it comes from members of one’s own political party while demanding accountability when the same conduct comes from political opponents.
Imagine if two government MPs had been involved in similar incidents with the Speaker. Would the Opposition remain silent?
Would the PNP leadership be satisfied with an apology, or would it demand disciplinary action?
Accountability cannot be selective. The same standards must apply to government and opposition parliamentarians.
Opposition Leader Mark Golding also has a responsibility to address the matter within his organisation. Leadership requires more than defending political colleagues. It requires setting standards and ensuring that those standards are respected.
At the same time, the government must ensure that any investigation is conducted fairly and without political interference.
What Will Happen Next?
The parliamentary authorities should not allow this matter to disappear simply because public apologies have been offered or political parties have issued statements.
There are established parliamentary mechanisms for examining alleged misconduct, including the Committee of Privileges and the House’s Ethics Committee.
An impartial examination should consider:
- The full video recordings of the incidents.
- The conduct and statements of everyone directly involved.
- Whether parliamentary standing orders or the applicable code of conduct were breached.
- Whether the circumstances warrant formal disciplinary proceedings.
- What measures are necessary to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Any disciplinary consequences should be determined through established parliamentary procedures, with all parties given a fair opportunity to respond.
Jamaica Deserves Better!
This is bigger than Mikael Phillips, Dr. Angela Brown-Burke, Desmond McKenzie, or Juliet Holness.
It is about the integrity of Parliament and the example our elected representatives are setting for the next generation.
Young Jamaicans are watching. They are observing how our leaders behave, how they resolve disagreements, and how they respond when challenged.
We cannot continue telling young people to respect authority, exercise self-control and resolve disagreements peacefully while the very people entrusted with national leadership are involved in confrontations that raise questions about those principles.
Parliament must be a place for robust debate, not personal intimidation. It must be a place where disagreements are settled through arguments, evidence, and democratic procedures, not aggression and insults.
And let us be clear: this is not about defending the JLP or attacking the PNP. It is about insisting that public office carries responsibility and that no elected representative is above parliamentary rules.
An apology is a welcome first step, but accountability requires more than words.
Jamaicans deserve a Parliament that commands respect, demonstrates maturity and upholds the standards expected of a national institution.
The public deserves answers, the Speaker deserves respect, and parliamentary rules must apply equally to everyone.
THE DIGNITY OF GORDON HOUSE MUST BE PROTECTED. JAMAICA DESERVES LEADERSHIP, NOT PARLIAMENTARY DISORDER!
About The Writer
Anthony Fisher attended Frome Technical High and Illinois State University. He has a BSc in Mass Media. A former videographer at the Jamaica Information Service, he is now a Multimedia Communication Specialist at the University of Illinois.
Anthony is a member of the diaspora who continues to show keen interest in Jamaica. We appreciate members of the diaspora supporting Bark Di Trute.
Editor's Note
When a session of Parliament closes, the Marshall departs from the House first after picking up the Mace. The Marshall is followed by the Speaker of the House, while all members of Parliament remain standing where they sit. Dr Brown-Burke deliberately left her seat and deliberately physically bounced the Speaker. That is a very serious matter for an MP to physically attack the Speaker of the House. Dr Brown-Burke should resign her seat immediately. Parliament is not a place for bad gyal. Brown-Burke definitely needs to see a psychiatrist.
Mikael Phillips, at this state of his life, does not realize that there are no excuses to attempt to physically attack an MP simply because you do not like what was said to you. He needs to get a three-month break from parliament and he also needs to visit a psychiatrist.
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Well said and fullsome coverage hope they are reading and listening.
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