Simon to be sworn in during first half of November, as Cabinet says Lower House will meet then

Supporters of MP-Elect Kelvin “Shugy” Simon who are anxious to
know when he will be sworn into the House of Representatives
should be relieved to learn that this will take place “in the first half
of November 2023,” according to the current Cabinet Notes.

Although Simon won the St. Mary’s South by-election since October
24, he cannot be sworn in as the representative until the
Government – through the attorney-general – sets a date for a
meeting of the Lower House.

Given that the constituency has been without representation in
Parliament since June 8, the date on which Simon’s resignation took
effect, many residents believe that a sitting should already have
been called specifically for having him sworn in.

They argue that the loser of the contest has already been sworn in as
a member of the Senate and taken up a portfolio in the Ministry of
Finance, while the people’s choice, Simon, is deliberately being
forced to wait.

In the meantime, the Notes, released on Monday, November 6, say
the Lower House “will soon be convened, in order to present the
modernized Landlord and Tenant Act, 2023.”
No specific date for the sitting was given, however.

Last week, REAL News had been informed that the next sitting – for
both the Lower and Upper Houses – was slated for November 21,
after which Parliament would be prorogued on December 1, making
way for the Throne Speech on December 7, with the Budget
Presentation following shortly after.