Opposition Leader and Member of Parliament for All Saints East and St Luke, Jamale Pringle, was ordered to leave Tuesday's joint sitting of Parliament after Senate President Alincia Williams-Grant ruled he had not fulfilled the constitutional requirement of taking the oath of allegiance. According to Antigua.news, Pringle had been abroad when the oaths were administered.
The incident unfolded moments after the session began, causing a delayed start as the Senate President addressed the matter before members of both Houses and invited attendees.
Williams-Grant stated that the issue had been brought to her attention while she was preparing to enter the chamber, and that efforts were made to resolve it privately before proceedings officially commenced. Despite being informed of the matter beforehand, Pringle nonetheless entered the chamber, forcing the Senate President to address it publicly.
"If the members in this house have not taken the oath, they should not be in this house. And I'm asking the honourable Jamal Pringle to remove himself, or I will have the such that arms remove him," Williams-Grant declared.
Following the ruling, Pringle quietly exited the chamber, accompanied by opposition senators.
Antigua.news has indicated it will seek further clarity on the matter.
