Minister of Finance Bob Richards was called a “financial terrorist” by Progressive Labour Party (PLP) MP Lawrence Scott last night in the House of Assembly during the debate following the Reply to the Budget.

Mr Scott made the comment early in his speech, throughout which he was called on points of order a number of times. He told members that he wanted to talk about “threats to our well-being.”

After calling the Finance Minister a financial terrorist, and being called on to withdraw the statement, the MP for Warwick South East said the definition of the term was to hold beliefs and ideologies, from which a person will not be deterred no matter what the facts are.

Mr Scott stated the Finance Minister had said the decision to borrow $800 million had nothing to do with interest rates. He went on to refer to an earlier speech given by Mr Richards where the Finance Minister had stated it was the “last phase of the ultra-low US interest rate cycle” and that “borrowing now will save tens of millions of dollars in interest costs.” Mr Richards had given the speech in July 2013.

Mr Scott said: “He stood on the floor of this House and said he never said that. That sounds like a terrorist to me.”

Minister of Tourism and Transport Shawn Crockwell intervened, calling Mr Scott’s comments “unparliamentary language,” and said it showed “clear disrespect.” He added as a point of order that the Finance Minister had said he did not predicate his decision on interest rates alone, and had included other factors.