Opposition MP’s condemn and reject restriction of public attendance at swearing-in ceremony

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Opposition MP’s condemn and reject restriction of public attendance at swearing-in ceremony
We, the duly elected Members of Parliament, condemn Gaston Browne’s undemocratic and highly dictatorial imposition of seat allocations for the swearing-in ceremony of newly elected parliamentarians on February 17, 2023.

By letter from the Clerk of the House and directed by Gaston Browne – in breach ofthe separation of powers protocol – Opposition MPs have been restricted to 10 invitations each for family members and constituents.

This means there will be only 80 seats, or 28 percent of the 290-seat gallery of the Parliament, for the Members who represent 47 percent of the 17 constituencies and 53 percent of the popular vote in the January 18, 2023 General Election.

We have extended open invitations to our constituents to attend the ceremony and therefore demand, in the spirit of “government of the people, by the people, for the people,” that appropriate arrangements be made to accommodate all those who wish to attend this extremely important event in our parliamentary democracy

In this country, the democratic practice for the people’s participation in the swearing-in ceremonies for Members of Parliament provides forattendance on a first-come first-served basis. It has always been up to the people, in the spirit of their involvement in the election process, to witness their elected representatives take the oath of office.
Accordingly, we note the convenient departure from settled practice – supposedly to invite Members of the Diplomatic Corps to the ceremony and thereby limit the space available for members of the public.
We are resolutely opposed to this tyrannical intervention by the leader of the Gaston Browne Administration to punitively restrict access to our constituents at the 2023 swearing-in ceremony in Parliament.

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25 COMMENTS

  1. Oh please stop the blasted crying and get on with the people’s business. What is the big hooray about attending this swearing in??? That can’t put bread on the table nor can it provide money to pay Bill’s so just swear in and get to work Pringle. Tap cry

    • @Quann

      you shut u dam mouth.

      if the shoe was on the other foot and Gaston kick up a storm as he often does you would be critical, dam ass!

      • You shut your dam mouth!
        205 seats in Parliament
        17 Parliamentarians with 10 guest each is 170
        Only 35 seats remaining for dignitaries and media.

        You’re such an idiot halitosis

  2. “By letter from the Clerk of the House and directed by Gaston Browne …”

    Is any right thinking Antiguan surprised by this Prime Minister’s actions?

    Instead of welcoming the opposition and viewing this as a better opportunity for answerability and democracy in Antigua, Gaston Browne continues to pour gas (pardon the intentional pun 😁) on the publics vote and accountability.

    CALL HIM OUR MR YEARWOOD, AND BACK UP ASOT MICHAEL … 2 FLYS 🪰🪰 IN ONE OINTMENT🧉. LOVELY!

  3. So we’re just going to act as if the Parliament building doesn’t have a limited number seats (about 150)? If all were permitted to bring their crowd, where would everyone fit? So because it has never been done before means that it is not a good idea to do it at some point?

    People, let’s be real. Everyone cannot attend because the building cannot accommodate everyone. Remove the emotionalism and apply a bit of good old horse sense.

  4. I don’t see anything wrong if Assot Michael get 10 invitations for his family and constituency members providing that all other Parliamentarians who won their seats get the same 10 if not, it is totally wrong. Election come and gone so people move on. It’s just a swearing in it need no crowd in parliament but if you are restricting one Parliamentarian to 10 only, let it be across the board. Word to the wise

  5. well it definitely was NOT Pringle who wrote that letter

  6. One big chupes. Really was the invitation for opposition member or does it apply to ALL sitting members of the house?? Is there enough room when yall wabt to come with yall big enterouge then people are denied going into the house and then problems right? What’s the big deal a any way??Can’t your supporters live stream it any way on social media same way? Some seems to have plenty of data as they live here on ANR 24/7/365

  7. Let’s show up, and STAND UP FOR OUR RIGHTS. IT IS OUR COUNTRY. We Have got to set it Right. F the politicians.

  8. As soon as serpent 🐍 start to make noise in Parliament, just ask him if he pay the bird 🐦 for the one poppa tree 🌳.

  9. Is Miss Knight one of Serpent’s Senator??? Dame Knight you RENOUNCE your U.S. Citizenship yet?? De bush lawyer, land turtle, badmind, envious Cattle Meat spill de beans on you. watch yo back Miss Knight – he spiteful of people PAYCHECK and POSITION!

  10. For what they want you would have to move parliament go to stadium. Dessure and Ahkeel still here for Franz swearing in?

  11. I’m not surprised to hear the kind of things who so ever wrote that letter….imagine of Pringle support from All Saint East and St Luke was dunce as Pringle and turn up hope to cheer him on where would they be seated….think about parking… if this was allowed for all 17 constituents.
    Dunceness at it’s best… imagine if they had won government…Pringle, is this the kind of leadership you were going to offer this country…
    Please let’s not oppose for opposing sake…we need meaningful debates in parliament…prove to them you are not dunce as they want to claim.
    I honestly think with letter somebody in your camp is trying to set you up… if you really believed the like of Serpent 🐍 and Bowen are comfortable with you leading them….then you really blind….wait until the convention.

    • Avatar photo I would rather an honest, dunce leader than one who 'creatively' steals and defraud the country of it's resources and lands

      @ Dexter

      your venom is wrongly placed……..it should be at Gaston, Mary Clare and the ABLP that is NOW trying to entice Asot back into the party considering their fickle position.

      One wrong move and Gaston GORN……..that is the leadership you should be worried about!!!

  12. I don’t see the big fuss . All the supporters have to do is wait outside. Asot had invited his entire constituency. Hope he not providing refreshments. Look koo trouble.

  13. They win and still not happy, seeing all the upp and opposition supporters will probably make gaston cry like a little baby. This man believe he owns Antigua and the country can’t function without him and some of the blind cool aid drinkers support the foolishness.

  14. UPP NEEDS A LESSON IN POLITICS.

    1 DO NOT TAKE ON EVERYTHING.

    2 CHOSE YOUR BATTLES SMARTLY.

    3 TAKE ON BATTLES THAT YOU CAN CONTROL THE OUT COME.

    4 NEVER GET DISTRACTED AND FOLLOW THEIR NARRATIVE.

    5 STAY FOCUSED.

    6 UPP SHOULD HAVE ORGANIZED A PICKET ABOUT THE AFRICAN SAGA TODAY. THAT WOULD HAVE COUNTERED THE RESTRICTION PLACED ON PARLIAMENT.

    7 UPP PLEASE PURCHASE POLITICS 101 AND APPLY THE OBVIOUS AND FOR CHRIST SAKE STOP CHASING YOUR TALE. JEEEZE.

  15. You Labourites ! If UPP had done this you would be singing a different tune. Gaston Brown is a bad-minded, lawless, wanabe dicatator, who in opposition reacted to any and everything with the idiotic minions right behind him ingesting the s**t without conscious thought. There has never been this much enthusiasm over swearing in because the popular voters in Antigua and Barbuda are tired of the lies, scandals and violation of rights by this clown, and want to see him checked. The other ALB cabinet members are a lot of spineless, compromised clowns. Nothing more dangerous than people who can not pull you up when you err, but have so much things to say behind your back.
    It looks suspicious because it has never been done before, and you can just bet this fool is behind it. Swing wide open the doors of parliament and let the citizens who want to attend be there. Simple really.

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