First Published On WeFM St Vincent.
Seven by-elections could be on the horizon in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, as the seven elected members of the opposition continue to miss meetings of the House of Assembly.
Since swearing in after winning 7 of the 15 seats in the country’s Parliament in the December 9th, 2015 General Elections, the Opposition members have boycotted meetings of the house, claiming that the ULP is not a legal government.
Information reaching WEFM, Thursday night, is that the Clerk of the House has served notice to the seven elected Opposition members and the two appointed opposition Senators, about their absence in more than three consecutive meetings of the House Of Assembly.
Under the Standing Orders of the House, specifically 74(2), once a member of the House is absent from three (3) consecutive meetings of the house, without the requisite leave of the speaker of the House, then the members must be notified.
If the opposition members continue to be absent, without leave obtained in writing from the Speaker of the House, then under section 29 (3) a of the Constitution of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the members will have to vacate their seats.
In the Letter circulated to the Opposition MP’s, the Clerk stated “My records indicate that you have been absent from three consecutive meetings of the Honourable house without the requisite leave of Mr. Speaker”. This was for the second meeting, second sitting and first session, on January 29th, 2016 and also on the 22nd, 23rd and 24th of February 2016 (3rd, 4th and 5th sittings of the 1st session).
Opposition members also missed the third meeting, sixth session of the 1st sitting on April 5th, 2016 and the May 31st, 2016 fourth meeting, seventh session, first sitting of the house.
