Hughes Promises “Highest Level of Debate” in Senate
Senate Minority Leader Chester Hughes on Wednesday said opposition senators intend to bring “the highest level of debate” to Antigua and Barbuda’s Upper House while focusing on policy and legislation rather than partisan politics.
Addressing the Senate following the swearing-in ceremony for senators appointed after the April 30 general election, Hughes said the opposition would approach debates with preparation and constructive criticism.
“We will criticize constructively. We will criticize with a sense of purpose and national pride and not for political reasons,” Hughes told the chamber.
“We will not debate bills and politics. But we will debate bills and policies and Antigua and Barbuda along with principles,” he added.
Hughes said senators on the opposition bench would carefully review legislation brought before the Upper House and would not oppose measures simply for political reasons.
“If we have to send a bill back to the lower house, we must send it back with the respect that we have a challenge with that bill and not that we oppose the bill,” he said.
The Senate Minority Leader also said he had already instructed opposition senators to thoroughly research legislation before participating in debates.
“I’ve already advised my team that proper research must be done in order for us to present to this nation what is right and principled for Antigua and Barbuda,” Hughes said.
He additionally encouraged younger senators to focus on issues affecting youth and to help explain legislation to younger generations.
“I challenge the younger senators in this honorable house to look into the interests of the young people of this country and explain to them how the bills that we will pass affect their lives and livelihoods,” Hughes said.
Hughes also stressed that political differences should not prevent senators from maintaining respectful relationships inside and outside the chamber.
“The politics is over. The work begins to continue the building of the nation of Antigua and Barbuda,” he said.
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Pringle make so good picks for the Senate. Hope these UPP Senators hold true to that and not engage in the old, nonsensical politics that cause UPP to do so badly in the last election. Our population to educated and informed now for mediocre Opposition contributions to debates to be the standard in parliament like we saw with Serpent and the ever-absent Shugy.
He chatted for too long and too much. Off to a bad start already a WEARY people with the long talking and it was just supposed to be BRIEF remarks. Sheesh! Where is PEARL?
This is music to my ears!
I’m so looking forward to real Parliamentary “grown-up” debates without politicians being disingenuous to one another other. Many of us are sick to the back-teeth of the mind-numbing “ya boo” politics that’s just a cover not to deal with the everyday cost of living for hardworking Antiguans.
I welcome this new initiative way of a much higher standard of debating. This is long overdue. My only hope is that the current Prime Minister adheres to this, and the UPP doesn’t descend to his – well known – crass and uncouth level.
Again, music to one’s ears…
That is all you all would go there and do. CHAT, CHAT, CHAT. Too much damn debate. CHAT, CHAT CHAT.
UPP you chat too damn much. That why you can’t win the damn election and them. All four of you there will just try to out chat one another.
People tired of the chatting. The chairman chatting in the newspaper. Pringle chatting what the chairman give him to chat. Zizi and the blue cool aid drinkers chatting on the Crusader. And everybody just chatting. Nobody doing anything ACTIVE to bring down Gaston Browne.
All UPP doing is trying to chat him down. Chups. Four chatterbox in the Senate.
Nombady wah fuh hear alyuh chat. The Senate is a place where alyuh go to chat to earn the pittance they give you. Leave the young boy inside dey and the rest of you bring allyuh backside out and start working with your hands and foot to build back the party.
Labour senators could chat. They went there to big up the leader. Not the four of alyuh. UPP getting pan mi last nerve now with all the damn chatting.
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