Attorney Leon Chaku Symister urged more residents to join the ongoing picketing of Government House, which entered its second consecutive day on Wednesday, May 31.
The protest action was initiated by the Concerned Citizens group on Tuesday, following the Governor-General’s receipt of a series of opinions regarding his powers to convene a commission of inquiry.
While Sir Rodney Williams had left the country on Monday, May 29, possibly to avoid what he reportedly labeled as the “nonsense” of the United Progressive Party, Symister remained resolute that the protest would continue until Friday, June 2.
Beyond that, a decision would be made on the next course of action.
Symister emphasized that one of the legal opinions received by Sir Rodney had reminded him of the repercussions of opposing the Cabinet.
As the King’s Counsel, Symister reminded the head of state that his appointment had been made by the Monarch based on the prime minister’s recommendation, and he could also be dismissed on the advice of the PM.
Additionally, Symister highlighted that the governor-general had been provided with incorrect information upon which he based his opinion, according to one of the King’s Counsel responses.
Specifically, a legal expert mentioned a date in March 2023 when hundreds of West Africans arrived and granted them the status of “refugees.”
On May 17, Leader of the Opposition Jamale Pringle led a group that met with Sir Rodney, presenting a letter requesting a public inquiry into the origins of Antigua Airways and the situation involving the hundreds of stranded West Africans.
The request was accompanied by a petition containing over 8,500 signatures in support of the inquiry.
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🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 why the BEGGING and pleading?? You think Antigua people want to be part of the aimless circus 🎪 🤔
Even the 🐍 🐍 🐍 min a cuss about the LOW TURNOUT 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣
People won’t PAPPYSHOW dem self with desperate clowns 🤣 🙄
Call on the police to ramp up investigation into the UPP boatman dat so money hungry he overload he boat with people foreday morning heading to St. Thomas
Where’s the harm in an independent investigation if the government are innocent of the claims?
ABLP AH HIDE. WHY? 🤔
“I HAVE A DREAM …”
Chaku Waku it should have been you and not J-Boogie, Barbudans need to wake up!
It is almost predictable. These serial ALP minions just persisting with their character assassination and mudslinging. Just ask @ Smh. People here are tainted by the corruption because humans are, for the most part, selfish, and cower in fear when asked to stand up for country. It’s time to stand up against this tyranny and dictatorship. There is a saying,” where ignorance is bliss, it’s folly to be wise.” This abounds in Antigua and Barbuda.
@Smh, they say,” fools laugh at their own calamity.” No doubt. Antigua and Barbuda is in grave calamity if steps are not taken to uncover the corruption, just like they did with Dathan.
Unlike the instruments (constitutions) that guide on the running of the countries in leftist central and south America, OECS states GGs act upon the advice of the PM.
This is one of the reasons why I hate the UPP. They latch on to anything even when it goes against sense. There’s nothing that Chaku said that addressed the fact that the GG cannot call an inquiry on his own. A matter of fact, saying the PM appointed and can fire the GG further proves who is subject to whom. So you are wasting time and encouraging people to do the same even when legal luminaries more learnt than yourself would have given their opinion? Smh.
BRIXTONIAN (WHAT A LARGE CROWD PROTESTING) Ten persons maximum . What a shame. All that chat from BRIXTONIAN , he is not on the protesting line ….BRIXTONIAN is a TOOTHLESS bad dog without bite. He is the BIGGEST fraud in Antigua.
Hi PETE, How’s things? Always pleased to hear from you again … have a MARVELLOUS day. Brixtonian 👍
Listening to JOAN and MISS.KNIGHT last evening it a DISGRACE. JOAN has been singing for Her supper because She missed flying off to the VIRGIN ISLANDS to have lunch during UPP ADMINISTRATION. JOAN those days are finished. That is the reason for your hostility towards ABLP. By the way Joan act like a lady and stop your brawling narratives on the radio.
Miss Knight is still looking to be a Senator. Will never happen. Stop campaigning until 2028. Both Miss Knight and Joan are worst thing ever on Radio. SHAME. SHAME.
I thought Justin Simon or the other legal luminaries whose legal opinion gave the GG full authority to call a public enquiry…would be talking to the people..not Chaku a known UPP Member and advocate.
From the beginning of the idea for the GG to call a commission of inquiry I wrote that the GG Cannot on his own call a commission of inquiry. As one said that the King appointed the GG that is false information. The ruling prime minister at the time appointed the GG and as customary he send the GG name to the king informing him that Dr. Rodney Williams is the Government choice of the day to have him as the King Representative in Antigua. All the King did is to accept the appointment of Doctor Rodney Williams as the GG. As time goes on and in the Prime Minister opinion that the GG is no longer fit as the GG, he just inform the king and replace him. The king cannot tell him who to choose. We are no longer a British territory. We just hanging there on a string. We are an independent state. As a matter of fact since independence we should no longer have Governor General. We should have a president long time. An elected man by choice cannot have more power than the sitting government. I don’t see any need for a commission of Inquiry. People love too much ugliness. Migrant smuggling taking place every day in the Caribbean. Nothing new.
@ LITTLE JOHNNY
Move to the head of the class. Very Intelligent contribution.
@ BRIXTONIAN and OTHERS
Why UPP so DECEPTIVE ? Have a FALSE signed PETITION. Why placing persons name on the petition without Their approval. SCAMPISH PEOPLE. Maximum 10 people protesting. They are begging People to join the protest. SHAME SHAME.
@ LITTLE JOHNNY
Move to the head of the class. Very insightful . Very intelligent contribution.
@ BRIXTONIAN and OTHERS
Why UPP so DECEPTIVE ? Have a FALSE signed PETITION. Why placing persons name on the petition without Their approval. SCAMPISH PEOPLE. Maximum 10 people protesting. They are begging People to join the protest. SHAME SHAME.
42nd street busy tonight.
1-2-3 dats the amount of people “picketing” government house. More plackard dan people
My take on this situation is that yes according to the Constitution in Section 80 (1), ‘in the exercise of his functions the Governor General shall act in accordance with the advice of the Cabinet or a Minister acting under the general authority of the Cabinet, except in cases where other provision is made by this Constitution or any other law, and without prejudice to the generality of this exception, in case where by this Constitution or any other law he is required to act-
a. in his discretion
The other law referred to by this Constitution is the ‘Commissions Of Inquiry Act CAP 91’ which states in Section 2 ‘It shall be lawful for the Governor General whenever he shall deem advisable, to issue a commission appointing one or more commissioners, and authorizing such commissioners, or any quorum of them therein mentioned, to inquire into the conduct or management of any department of the public service in Antigua and Barbuda, or any public officer of Antigua and Barbuda, or any parish or district thereof, or into any matter in which an inquiry would, in the opinion of the Governor General, be for the public welfare…….’ This suggests to me whether with the advice of Cabinet or not, the Constitution makes it clear that the Governor General in his discretion can commission an inquiry or the ‘Commissions of Inquiry Act’ gives him the powers to do such.as provided for by the Constitution .I must also remind the Governor General that he should act as the referee between the government and the people of Antigua and Barbuda in the interest of the people. Eight thousand five hundred signatures on the petition should not go unnoticed. Even though in the past the Governor General has always acted under the advice of Cabinet makes it right. The Governor General does have the powers on his own to commission an inquiry according to the Constitution and the ‘Commissions of Inquiry Act’. The government’s position is that the Commissions of Inquiry Act’ is antiquated from since 1880. The fact is that this law has never been amended nor repealed and there still stands today.
Correction to the above comment which should read ‘Even though in the past the Governor General has always acted under the advice of Cabinet does not make it right.’ Furthermore, let’s just reason here for a minute. If commissioning an inquiry by the Governor General rest solely on the advice of Cabinet, then if Government Ministers or Public Servants are involved in corruption, do you think that Cabinet would give the okay for the Governor General to set up an inquiry to investigate themselves? Certainly not.
Run behind Pringle CAN’T READ???? Bet Pringle CA-CAPA-SEE-TAH didn’t write anything on the signs. He DUNCE DUNCE DUNCE
LMFAO!!!!! Wait anna di same UPP say dem get di “POPULAR VOTE” so why dem ah beg ppl fu join dem🤣🤣🤣 guess dem as “POPULAR” as dem think dem min be🤣🤣🤣🤣
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