ANAND MOHEEPUTH
The long parliamentary tradition whereby the Governor in place presided over the sittings of the Mauritian Legislature Council came to an end in 1957 with the appointment of Sir Robert Stanley as Speaker of the Legislative Council. 
Introducing Sir Robert Stanley to the Council on 26 February 1957, the Officer administering the colony, Robert Newton, described the first Speaker as a “wise and understanding friend who will assist you (members) in the development of legislative practice along sound and democratic lines”.
Replying to the welcome address delivered by Dr Edgar Laurent, seniormost and second member for Port Louis, Sir Robert Stanley said it was a “great honour” bestowed upon him to serve as Speaker of the Mauritius Legislative Council. He said in conducting the Council business, he was to be guided by the principles and traditions prevailing in the House of Commons.
Nonetheless, in a brief incursion into the role and responsibilities expected of a Speaker, Sir Robert laid emphasis on a number of salient attributes that go about making a “good” Speaker who could command the respect of the whole house.
Namely, he hinted on the element of impartiality which should be the first and foremost consideration of a Speaker when presiding over debates. Besides, Sir Robert claimed the Speaker must be someone “calm with an equable temperament, have a super abundance of patience, assist members in debates and not the least have a sense of humour, a good voice and not be too procedural minded.” Sir Robert Stanley served the Legislative Council until 21 March 1960.
The nomination of a Speaker for the Mauritius Legislative Council followed an exchange of correspondence between the Governor of Mauritius, Sir Robert Scott and the Secretary of state for the Colonies, Alan Lennox-Boyd in 1955. Mauritius was then gearing up for Constitutional development. The introduction of a ministerial system was one of the items that figured high on the agenda of the Colonial office. In the same breath, Governor Scott proposed an overhauling of the Legislative Council’s structure to meet the exigencies with the Constitutional reform in view.
In a despatch dated 7 January 1955 to the Secretary of state, Governor Scott suggested that the Speaker should be “a wholly independent person selected for his judgment, detachment and capacity”.
The British administration to all intents and purposes seemed meticulous in the choice of a Speaker of high calibre while keeping aloof from consideration of political convenience as it so often happens today.. What mattered most was the “competency” of the selected person to don the mantle of Speakership in a dignified manner.
In fact, in a letter dated 10 February 1956, the Secretary of state endorsed the Governor’s recommendations stating that “the first Speaker would be appointed from outside the Colony”. Lennox-Boyd assured Governor Scott that he would “ assist in the search of a person of required experience and competence….” The rare bird was found in Sir Robert Stanley.
The origin of Speakership in England could be traced back to 1376 when Peter de la Mare was appointed by king Edward III to act as royal spokesperson whose role was to transmit the king’s messages to the Lords and Barons sitting in parliament and in turn to give information to the king about everything happening in parliament. But the first Speaker in British history had only a short spell of three months because he was imprisoned by the king’s son, John of Gaunt, for plotting against the king.
Indeed, in medieval times, it was perilous to embark on a Speaker’s job. Between 1399 and 1535, seven Speakers were executed by beheading, for having incurred the wrath of kings, furious about receiving unpalatable news from parliament. In another instance, king Henry VIII was merciless towards Speaker Edmund Dudley ordering his execution because as “Government official, he profited greatly from his position”.
Perhaps, the only Speaker in those times who defied a king and kept going as Speaker for a long time was William Lenthall in 1642. When king Charles I accompanied by a body of armed guard barged into parliament to flush out five “traitors” who had fled, before his arrival, and enquired as to their whereabouts, Speaker Lenthall replied with due respect to the king, “I have neither eyes to see nor tongue to speak in this place but as this house is pleased to direct me”. To which the king retorted with humour, “I have eyes to see the birds have flown….”
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When king Charles I accompanied by a body of armed guard barged into parliament to flush out five “traitors” who had fled, before his arrival, and enquired as to their whereabouts, Speaker Lenthall replied with due respect to the king, “I have neither eyes to see nor tongue to speak in this place but as this house is pleased
to direct me”.