Pringle encourages supporters to fill the Lower House next Tuesday when MP-Elect Simon is sworn in
MP-Elect Kelvin “Shugy” Simon will be sworn in as the
representative of the St. Mary’s South(SMS) constituency next
Tuesday, November 21, and Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle says
he is looking forward to seeing “a full house” to witness this historic
event.
On October 24, Simon decisively won the SMS by-election for the
United Progressive Party (UPP) – scoring his second victory against
two different Labour Party candidates in nine months.
His supporters have since expressed their disgust that four full
weeks will have elapsed between his win and his taking of the oath
of office in the Lower House.
They point out that the loser of the SMS contest was swiftly sworn
into the Senate and, just as speedily, received an appointment as a
minister of state.
Political pundits say the speed with which those appointments were
made amounts to Prime Minister Gaston Browne taking revenge for
his party’s sound defeat in St. Mary’s South.
Despite the millions spent in last-minute improvements to the
infrastructure; reported inducements and gifts; and Browne,
himself, hitting the campaign trail daily, the constituency remained
beyond the Labour Party’s reach.
Meanwhile, Pringle tells REAL News that Simon’s return to the seat
he vacated on June 8 – when he resigned to short-circuit a drawn-
out court challenge – deserves a celebration.
Accordingly, he is encouraging not only Simon’s constituents, but
UPP supporters, in general, to flock to Queen Elizabeth Highway
next Tuesday and “fill the gallery” of the Parliament.
This was the case when Simon and his five UPP colleagues took their
oath of office after the January 18 General Election. The exercises
were conducted in an atmosphere of thanksgiving and festivity, with
the cheers of scores of blue- and yellow-clad supporters resounding
through the Parliament’s chamber.
Simon’s return will take the Opposition Bench back to its full eight-
member strength, with the UPP-allied Barbuda People’s Movement
seating one Member and the Independent Member for St. Peter
rounding out the numbers.
