Opposition legislators in Antigua denied access to Senate over proof of vaccination

Opposition legislators were on Friday prevented from participating in the sitting of the Senate because they did not show proof of being vaccinated against COVID-19.

They accused Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sir Gerald Watts, of acting beyond his powers.

Last week, Watts called for legislators to show proof of vaccination, saying it was important for them to show leadership in dealing with the virus that has killed 102 and infected 4,040 since March last year.

“Preliminary investigations indicate that almost all persons either in the House or the Senate are [vaccinated], but we just need to confirm,” he told the Parliament.

He said he had asked for legislators in both Houses of the Parliament to produce their vaccination cards or the other official card “so that the clerk can observe and record it in Hansard”.

President of the Senate, Alincia Williams-Grant, confirmed the absence of opposition legislators, saying that she had received correspondence from them.

“I am sure we will hear in the course of the day, through the media, but it beholds me to respond directly to the correspondence and I will do so and report at the next sitting. As of today, it seems as though they will be absent,” she added.

But speaking on Observer Radio, Senator Shawn Nicholas said their absence is due to a request from the Speaker that they show proof of vaccination before entry.

“There is a decision which we are still trying to figure out where that decision came from and the authority of the decision that all members of parliament of both Houses ought to present a vaccination card to enter into the Parliament building.”

The legislator said that one opposition member, Damani Tabor, who had earlier arrived at the building, was prevented from entering by officers on duty.

“He questioned the basis and they told him of the decision, because we cannot call it a policy, and he asked whether or not there was any change [and] they said no and they could not allow him in. He then got in touch with the rest of us because we figured if they did not allow him we would not go through the same harassment”.

Nicholas said the senators are questioning whether Watts has the authority to issue such a directive.

“The Speaker of the House …he is in charge of the Lower House. The general authority of the President under Standing Order 21 states that ‘the President shall be responsible for the general direction and control of the precincts of the Parliament’.

“We do not take… instructions from the Speaker of the House. In fact, when you look at how Parliament is set up, the President of the Senate is of a higher rank than the Speaker of the House,” Nicholas said.

“No Member of the House of Representatives or the Senate who are unvaccinated against the coronavirus will be permitted to attend a sitting of the Lower House or the Senate…members of the Senators will be required to present his or her vaccination certificates upon making entrance into the Parliamentary building. As Speaker of the House, I seek the full cooperation of Members and Senators,” Nicholas quoted from the letter issued by Watts, noting that the document was copied to the President of the Senate and the Attorney General.

Last month, the government announced that all unvaccinated government employees, including those in statutory corporations and companies in which it owns majority shares, shall be required to remain at home until proof of vaccination is provided.

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