Prime Minister Gaston Browne has sharply criticised the opposition's decision to walk out of Tuesday's joint sitting of Parliament after Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle was ordered to leave the chamber for failing to take the oath of allegiance.
According to Antigua.news, Browne spoke to ABS following the Throne Speech delivered by Governor General Sir Rodney Williams, describing the opposition's conduct as "ridiculous" and accusing its members of displaying "dunce leadership."
"This lack of cooperation is just ridiculous, and they're conducting themselves like a bunch of dunces," Browne said bluntly.
The Prime Minister defended the ruling made by Senate President Alincia Williams-Grant, insisting that the Constitution clearly requires every member participating in formal parliamentary proceedings to first take the oath of allegiance.
"You can't on one hand say you understand that the Constitution precludes you from participating and then say 'but.' There is no 'but.' The Constitution is the ultimate authority," Browne declared.
Browne maintained that opposition members were informed privately before the sitting began, in an effort to avoid publicly embarrassing Pringle.
"They spoke to him privately before the Parliament because they didn't want to embarrass him publicly. He refused to cooperate," the Prime Minister said.
Browne further argued that the opposition had no grounds for a dramatic walkout, stating that no discriminatory treatment had taken place. "At least they could have said, 'Okay, the Leader of the Opposition missed it.' But they had no basis to walk out because no discriminatory decision was taken against him," he stated.
The Prime Minister also pointed to the absence of the Barbuda representative as evidence that others understood the constitutional limitations. "There is a reason why the member for Barbuda is not here, because he understood that in order to participate, he would have had to take the oath," Browne explained.
Browne repeatedly stressed that constitutional rules cannot be set aside for political convenience. "If it is unconstitutional, it is not permissible. We cannot supersede what the Constitution says," he said.
The incident unfolded moments after the joint sitting began, forcing a delayed start as Williams-Grant informed members and invited guests that Pringle could not legally participate until taking the oath at a future sitting of Parliament.
