Debate on the 2025 budget has ended in the Lower House.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne wrapped up debate on the budget after a stand-off over speaking order.
Watch the commotion in the house earlier this afternoon with the House Speaker trying to rein in members of the opposition.
The disturbances began when Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle returned from the lunch break to see Prime Minister Gaston Browne closing the budget debate.
This is when the hour-long stand off began.
The disagreement only ended after Opposition MP’s moved a motion to suspend the House which was defeated.
The Budget debate ended with only 3 speakers on the government side and 2 on the opposition side of the house debating.
The Budget proceeded to committee stage and was passed. The parliament then moved on to consider other bills.
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UPP is a big joke of a political party …….
Only a matter of time before we see fist fights being introduced into our Parliament. We are like warring tribes and our Parliament has becomed more polarized and dysfunctional because as adults we do not know how to advocate constructively.
WOW! How did Gaston know these guys would not speak after he yield for them. These guys are worst than I thought, all politics aside the UPP needs real, real help. Blue or Red, its time to be real! Antigua has no viable opposition. My heart goes out to Lewis, he really was robbed of the leadership. It’s time for a shake up in the UPP, they can’t go on like this, total embarrassment!, what a political party., help them Lord….
We all live inna Antigua, you mean to tell me after 10 years of ABLP governance, an Opposition MP STILL needs to hear Health Minslister Molwyn Joseph speak in order to debate on the issue of Health in parliament? I can leave from by me Kip-woman right now n go Oppose that budget in Parliament for 5 HOURS!!!! Smh
Lol y’all say Gaston bad, but you continuously load his gun to use against you 🤣🤣.. so the more you talk the more support he gets. Just shut up and wait your turn and stop making a clown of yourselves.
Pringle spoke, Richard spoke so there are three other Opposition members to speak Bowen, Watts and Simon what then is the big fuss. One of them could have spoken. Walker said that he left home his notes. My focus is on the Opposition UPP and it did not look good for them today. It was like comedy. The UPP needs to get its act together and very fast.
I am shamed of everyone in that house, I see folks that seem incompetent. Even the speaker seems as if he does not have the intelligence and vocabulary to be in house house. Why is our speaker unable to speak?
This is honestly becoming annoying, can’t anyone else see this? Is it just me that knows competent people exist for this job?
The speaker must go, he does not have the intelligence or vocabulary for the speaker of a house. I was so embarrassed watching this.
I am not a person who likes talking about education and intelligence in this context but oh my goodness. Let us try to look professional and developed in such sacred and powerful place of government.
Also, AG demeanor when I was watching was like he knew the PM would say you did not stick up for me, so the AG just shouted shut up, more to please the PM. As his body language seem to agree with the opposition but was not able to express that in fear of the PM. What on earth is going on here?
This is why certain people preferred Richard Lewis for leader