Government Senator Philip Shoul has declared opposition Senator Jonathan Wehner to be on his "hit list" following remarks Wehner made criticising the ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party and Senate President Alincia Williams-Grant in the wake of last week's parliamentary walkout.
According to Antigua News Room, Shoul made the comments during a discussion on Pointe FM, where he revealed he had initially intended to give the first-term opposition senator space to develop as a parliamentarian — even offering him personal encouragement.
"I looked across the aisle and I said to him, 'Do me a favor. I'm really happy that you're here. You're young. You have a lot of potential. Be your own man,'" Shoul said.
However, Shoul said Wehner squandered that goodwill by appearing on Observer Radio the same day as the swearing-in ceremony and publicly criticising both the Labour Party and Williams-Grant.
"He goes the same afternoon after the swearing-in and chastised the entire Labour Party. And then he leaves the Parliament. He chastises the President of the Senate who he has to go back to meet," Shoul said.
Those actions, the senator said, prompted a change in his approach toward the young opposition politician.
"You know, if this young man had one ounce of sense, right? Because I also know right now he's on my hit list. That's what I say right now," Shoul said.
Shoul added that he had originally planned to hold back during Wehner's maiden parliamentary contribution but has since reversed that decision. "I had planned to leave him in his maiden presentation, right? Just leave him alone. But I'm not going to do it," he said.
The government senator also challenged Wehner's grasp of fiscal policy, dismissing the opposition senator's commentary on budget estimates. "He talks about budget estimates — that's his favorite word. He doesn't understand what a budget estimate is," Shoul said.
Wehner was among opposition legislators who walked out of Parliament last week during a dispute over whether Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle could participate in a joint sitting of Parliament before taking the oath of allegiance.
The sharp exchange adds to the growing political fallout from the walkout, as tensions between government and opposition figures over the handling of parliamentary proceedings continue to escalate.
