From Caribbean360

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, Wednesday June 25, 2014, CMC – The main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) says it will boycott the first sitting of the new Parliament since the June 12 general election after claiming that it had not been given adequate notice of the sitting.

Parliament is due to meet later on Wednesday to elect a Speaker as well as a Deputy Speaker and for legislators to take their oath of office. But UPP leader and former prime minister Baldwin Spencer said that he had only been informed of the sitting on Monday.

Spencer has written to the Clerk of Parliament, Ramona Small, indicating that the opposition would not be present at the sitting.

“I wish formally to inform that a sitting of the House requires, by Standing Order 8(4), at least seven days notice which must be given by your good self.

“In the circumstance, it would be unreasonable to expect us to participate in the sitting of Parliament, which on its face is unconstitutional, illegal and in breach of the Standing Orders of Parliament,” Spencer wrote, adding that it was a misconception to believe that the meeting of the House did not constitute a sitting because its purpose was only to elect a Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

“Every meeting of the House is a sitting, whatever the business to be conducted, and the election of a Speaker (and a Deputy Speaker) is a necessary formality…” Spencer wrote.

But Prime Minister Gaston Browne, who led his Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ALP) to a landslide victory in the June 12 poll, has described the UPP’s position as unwarranted and churlishness.

Prime Minister Browne also described the Opposition Leader’s actions as unjustified.

“Getting done the business of the people by taking an oath is not a burdensome requirement. The exercise will not require you to read any proposed legislation or to debate any bill. There will likely be congratulatory statements only which is likely last no more than sixty minutes,” Browne wrote.

“Your letter displays an unwarranted churlishness unbecoming of you, Sir. It clearly suggests that you intend to have a belligerent relationship with the majority; yet, your words, issued on the morning of June 13, when it was apparent that the Government was sure to be in different hands – suggested that you would be taking a different path.”

Prime Minister Browne reiterated his party’s position that his administration is ready to carry out the business of the state.

“It is in the best interest of the Antiguan and Barbudan people to proceed quickly to get their business done, and swearing-in parliamentarians is the first step in achieving this objective. Eliminating the unemployment inherited from your administration that so plagues our youth and adult populations is uppermost in our minds – we are ready to work.”

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA UPP LEADER AND FORMER PRIME MINISTER BALDWIN SPENCER (FILE PHOTO)

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