Asot Michael, the Parliamentary Representative for St Peter
Asot Michael, the Parliamentary Representative for St Peter has been told that only ten guests can be allowed to attend his swearing-in ceremony on Friday
Initially, Michael invited all those who voted for him and we able, to attend the historic swearing-in; over 2000 residents.
Micheal contested St Peter as an independent candidate and became the first to be elected to parliament under these circumstances.
A long-serving member of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party, Michael however, was replaced by Rawdon Turner following a nasty battle with Prime Minister Gaston Browne.
But in a letter addressed to the Clerk of Parliament, Michael said that it has always been a practice in Antigua and Barbuda that public attendance is on a first come first serve basis.
“Never in history have members been allocated invitations for their swearing-in ceremony. Never in our country’s history have Ambassadors, High Commissioners, or members of the Diplomatic Corp been invited to the swearing-in ceremony at Parliament”
Defying the stipulated restriction of only ten persons, Michael wrote in his letter that he was inviting sixty instead.
“As the duly elected member of Parliament for St Peter, I extend an open invitation to my constituents to attend my swearing-in ceremony. I anticipate well over sixty constituents will be in attendance. I trust that those who attend will be accommodated in Parliament”, he added.
Really. So when his sixty is allowed to attend …only about 220 seats will be left for the supporters of the government and the opposition members. How can that be fair? I agree with the restrictions but it must be across the board.