The violence and antics of the gangster movement which has developed among young men in heartland communities in New Providence was taken to the Parliament on Wednesday by members of the opposition Free National Movement.

In a copycatish move and mimicking the performance of the real freedom fighters of The Bahamas, Lynden O. Pindling and Milo B. Butler in 1965, the current Member of Parliament for the Saint Barnabas constituency Shanendon Cartwright threw the Speaker’s Mace out of the window of the House. He was aided by the member for Saint Annes Adrian White.

They were apparently angry with the Speaker who disallowed the Leader of the Opposition Michael Pintard from making a speech during a time when the rules allowed statements by Cabinet Ministers.  While Pintard engaged in an exchange of words with the Speaker, Patricia Deveaux, Mr. Cartwright grabbed the Mace for the dastardly act which was obviously pre-meditated and planned.

After the 1965 Black Tuesday incident, laws were enacted to make that conduct a criminal offence.  When Pindling threw the Mace through the window in April 1965, he was protesting the inequitable manner in which constituency boundaries were drawn, making elections unfair. It was at the time justifiable to the masses.  However, it was not an offense at that time.

This is now an offense against the State and the laws of the land must be enforced without fear.  We will now see if the Speaker will make a complaint for charges to be brought against Cartwright.

The action must be roundly denounced by right-thinking Bahamians everywhere.  In the melee, the Deputy Speaker, a clerk of the House and a policeman were injured.

While there is a place for Civil disobedience in politics, this despicable action by Cartwright was uncalled for and clearly indicates that he acted irresponsibly to impress his supporters who came to Rawson Square to support him.

This level of violence sends a poor message to young people at a time when all Bahamians yearn for a more peaceful and orderly society.

We are a nation of laws and not of men, and no one is above the law. The Bahamas is watching.