KINGSTON, Jamaica — Government back-bencher Jolyan Silvera’s attack on the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) proposal for a referendum on social issues, including removing the Queen as head of state, fuelled a shouting match between both sides in the House of Representatives Wednesday.

The exchanges started heating up when Silvera, in his contribution to the sectoral debate, referred to Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, as the “comrade leader”, triggering a response from Opposition MP Everald Warmington that “this is not Old Hope Road, y’know”, in reference to the address of the People’s National Party (PNP) headquarters.

Silvera went on to quote Simpson, Michael Manley and P J Patterson’s references to introducing a republican form of government, which angered Opposition MPs even more.

But things started getting out of hand when he suggested that Tivoli Gardens “seemed to have been operated as its own little republic state within Jamaica, having elected a ‘president’, who in the constituents’ minds was more powerful than the Prime Minister of Jamaica and the elected representatives of this Honourable House”.

This infuriated West Kingston MP, Desmond McKenzie, who shouted, “why you don’t talk about Green Bay and the burning down of the Eventide Home”.

“What about Coral Gardens?” junior minister Luther Buchanan shouted.

Acting Speaker, Lloyd B. Smith, warned that if the shouting match continue he would have to exercise his authority.

But, Water minister, Robert Pickersgill urged Silvera, to continue in the same vein. At which point Leader of Opposition Business, Derrick Smith, suggested that they include the “Gold Street Massacre”, as well.

“This is why you were the shortest serving minister of national security,” Pickersgill attacked Snith.

In the meantime the crowd in the public gallery were enjoying the exchanges spurring on the shouters.

Eventually, Smith was able to bring the House under his control. When Silvera resumed his speech he suggested that the Opposition should join with the Government to overcome the constitutional block to becoming a republic.

“Never,” McKenzie responded.