Symister detects an uneasiness from the public owing to the delayed opening of Parliament

Attorney-at-law Leon “Chaku” Symister is concerned about the length of time which the Parliament is taking to be convened since the elected Members of the House have to be sworn in.

The Cabinet announced on Wednesday (January 25) that Members of the House of Representatives will take the Oath of Allegiance to be followed by the election of the Speaker, on the morning of February 17 (2023).

Reportedly later that day, the members of the Senate will take the Oath of Allegiance followed by the Election of the President of the Senate.

The joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament will convene on February 20 to hear the Speech from the Throne, the Cabinet Notes of this week state.

But Symister, a spokesperson for the United Progressive Party (UPP), says based on the country’s electoral system, once the election results have been returned, the swearing in of the Prime Minister and the Attorney General should take place, which has already happened.

Additionally, the swearing in of the members of the Cabinet as well as members of the Senate would take place, which have also happened.

Symister says he is left to wonder why it is taking so long for the parliamentary representatives, who have been given a mandate by the people to represent their interest in the Lower House, is taking so long.

Symister says that although there is no fixed time, of which he is aware, in which the Parliament must be convened, the protocol has always been that the people’s representatives be sworn in during the shortest possible time.  This is in order for the electorate to see a manifestation of their votes of their choice by the opening of the Parliament.  

Symister says that he has been bombarded with calls from members of the public inquiring about the UPP’s stance as it relates to the delayed start of the new life of Parliament.