ANTIGUA-Opposition stages walkout, warns of threat to democracy.
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – The main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) on Tuesday condemned the decision that led to […]
Black News 
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – The main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) on Tuesday condemned the decision that led to its leader, Jamale Pringle, being told to leave the Parliament ahead of the delivery of the Throne Speech by Governor General, Sir Rodney Williams, heralding the start of a new parliamentary term in Antigua and Barbuda.
In a statement, the party described the action by Senate President, Elincia Williams-Grant, as “partisan” and intended to embarrass the Pringle.
It said that Pringle had been prevented from participating in Tuesday’s joint sitting ahead of the throne speech because he had not taken the oath of allegiance before Parliament.
Williams-Grant said that while Pringle had taken his oath of office at Government House, he had not completed the constitutional requirement before the House.
“As such, I am asking the Honorable Gentleman to remove himself from the proceedings this morning in this House as a joint sitting, and I’m doing so before I read the provisions again.
“I’m allowing you, Mr. Pringle, to excuse yourself from this sitting,” the Senate President said, dismissing an attempt by the Senate Minority Leader, Chester Hughes, to intervene, insisting that there would be no debate on the matter.
Williams-Grant later defended her ruling and apologized to the public for the disruption.
“I don’t think there’s any argument here. I tried to bring this quietly under control, but now we’re taking up people’s time dealing with a matter clearly written in the Constitution. This is a proceeding that affects both Houses.
“If the members in this House have not taken their oath, they should not be in this House, and I’m asking the Honorable Jamal Pringle to remove himself, or I will have the Sergeant-at-Arms remove him.”
Attorney General Stedroy Benjamin, in supporting the position of the Senate President, said that all members must take the oath of allegiance before participating in formal proceedings.
“It is particularly clear in our Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda that every member in either House must take the oath of allegiance in this House before he or she is permitted to take part in a formal proceeding.
“Madam Speaker, with respect, this is in fact a formal proceeding. Consequently, every one of us in this House so far has taken the oath of allegiance, etc., at the Government House.
“We must take another oath in this House to take part in a formal proceeding in this House,” Benjamin told Parliament.
But in its statement, the UPP noted that Pringle had received a letter inviting him to attend the sitting as an honorable member and was present in time for the required proceedings, such as the taking of the oath by a new member, which the Clerk administers.
The party also criticized the decision to allow the Attorney General to speak while denying the Minority Leader an opportunity to respond. The opposition party said the actions taken during the sitting threaten democracy in Antigua and Barbuda.
