Deputy Clerk Responds to Opposition Claims of Threats to Democracy

There have been erroneous and misconceived reports of the events of yesterday, Thursday 5th June 2025, which occurred at the Parliament building and involved the Leader of the Opposition.

That Parliamentarian serves as the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) who has the authority to convene meetings of the five members of Parliament who sit on this Committee.

A meeting scheduled for 5th June 2025 was postponed because several parliamentarians were off-island, and the member from Barbuda was unavailable. A new date for the PAC meeting was set on 3rd July, when a quorum would likely be available.

Nevertheless, the Leader of the Opposition journeyed to the Parliament Building, entered into the Chamber of the building (where Parliament is usually convened) and appeared to be holding a meeting of the press and the members of the public who joined the Honourable Member.

When this change in purpose was discerned, the Honourable Jamale Pringle was asked to vacate the chamber since the meeting to be held there was postponed, and the use of the chamber for the other purpose was inappropriate. He complied. Nevertheless, on the steps of the Parliament Building, the Leader of the Opposition commenced holding a press conference and interview session during which he acknowledged that the PAC Meeting had been postponed.

The Deputy Clerk to Parliament asserts that “nothing was done” outside of the norm, and that the Chamber of the Parliament is not to be used for the purposes for which it was being utilized. Those who speak of “threats to democracy”, and draw other sorts of nefarious conclusions are deluding themselves. The Leader of the Opposition knows very well that he had stepped beyond the appropriate use to which the Chamber of the Parliament is to be put to use.