Opposition legislators barred from attending Senate meeting
OPPOSITION LEGISLATORS were on Friday prevented from participating in the meeting of the Senate because they did not show proof of being vaccinated against the COVID-19 pandemic, and accused the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sir Gerald Watts, of acting beyond his powers.
Last week, Sir Gerald called on legislators to show proof of vaccination against the pandemic, 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.
Sir Gerald 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 the Hansard”.
President of the Senate Alincia Williams-Grant confirmed the absence of opposition legislators, saying that she had received correspondence from them “in relation to why I believe they are absent today.
“I am sure we will hear i n 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 of the Parliament 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 be entered 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 the 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 figure if they did not allow him we would not go through the same harassment.”
Nicholas said the senators are questioning whether or not Sir Gerald has the authority to issue such a directive.