Pringle Removed from Joint Sitting After Oath Controversy

Published
Member of Parliament for All Saints East and St Luke and Leader of the Opposition Jamale Pringle was ordered to leave Tuesday’s joint sitting of Parliament after Senate President Alincia Williams-Grant

Member of Parliament for All Saints East and St Luke and Leader of the Opposition Jamale Pringle was ordered to leave Tuesday’s joint sitting of Parliament after Senate President Alincia Williams-Grant ruled that he had not fulfilled the constitutional requirement of taking the oath of allegiance before participating in the proceedings.

Pringle was abroad when the oaths were being taken.

The development unfolded moments after the session began, resulting in a delayed start as the Senate President addressed the issue before members of both Houses and invited attendees.

Williams-Grant explained that the matter had been brought to her attention while she was preparing to enter the chamber and said efforts were made to address it privately before the sitting officially commenced.

According to the Senate President, despite being informed beforehand, Pringle proceeded into the chamber, forcing the matter to be dealt with 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”

Following the ruling, Pringle quietly exited the chamber alongside opposition senators.

Antigua.news will seek further clarity on the matter.

This story was first published by Antigua News on May 26, 2026: antigua.news/2026/05/26/pringle-removed-from-joint-sitting-after-oath-controversy. © 2026 Antigua News. Republication without permission is not allowed.

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Comments (9)

  • Lord Jesus Help May 26, 2026, 10:42 AM

    You all knew he had a family mater with his daughter and your child procedure comes first so stop stressing him swear him in and get on with Antigua and Barbuda business please wasted time.
    Reply
    • Donna May 26, 2026, 11:11 AM

      “I agree with you. We all face family health and medical issues. If he requested to take his oaths publicly, please grant that request before commencing with parliament’s business today. The parliamentary constitution needs to be reviewed to accommodate members who have children with health problems and must travel abroad during the oath-signing ceremony. For anyone who missed the ceremony due to a family medical emergency, they should be allowed to take and sign their oaths immediately upon their return, before regular parliament business begins. We are all human, and our time will come when we will face similar family crises.”
      Reply
  • Anonymous May 26, 2026, 11:44 AM

    What part of he was inform before the sitting you guys didn’t understand,please read the article again.
    Reply
    • Analysis May 26, 2026, 1:16 PM

      Does it matter if he was informed? He is back now let him take his oath. Did they say that they had a alternative day set and he missed it intentionally? You all is so blind with political minds that all u see is red and blue
      Reply
  • CWD May 26, 2026, 12:10 PM

    They should have let him take his oaths before the parliament debates began. These ABLP supporters are wicked like the leader of their party.
    Reply
  • Bassie May 26, 2026, 1:23 PM

    Bunch of bull f—kgoes on in Antigua she was told to ask him to leave
    Reply
  • Why May 26, 2026, 7:54 PM

    Is this the kind of pettiness we can expect with more females in positions of leadership?
    Reply
  • Apex Jones May 26, 2026, 8:56 PM

    They like confusion. Why did he even attend
    Reply
  • Pray Mr May 26, 2026, 9:00 PM

    This not red or blue a responsible father and a child health stop all the wickedness, don’t let this land on your doorstep if it’s your child what would you do, swear him in stop the bashing.
    Reply

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