WATCH: House in turmoil over Cuba censure motion

A motion seeking to censure the Government over Jamaica’s abstention on a United Nations resolution against the US embargo on Cuba triggered heated exchanges in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, culminating in a stand-up protest and the adjournment of the sitting.

The motion, submitted by Opposition MP for St Andrew Western Anthony Hylton, was accepted for debate by Speaker of the House Juliet Holness, who ruled that it would be debated on Tuesday, despite the Opposition’s preference for the matter to be taken at the next sitting.

Full coverageJamaica Breaks With Decades of Support by Abstaining on Cuba Embargo Vote9 reports

Hylton opened the debate by outlining the Opposition’s objections to the Government’s handling of the policy change, arguing that Parliament should have been informed that the administration was considering departing from Jamaica’s longstanding position before the matter was discussed in the House.