PM Was Prepared to End Budget Debate in Absence of Opposition  

At the start of day three of the budget debate, there was no member of the opposition present inside the National Assembly chamber. Opposition Leader Moses Barrow was present at the start of the debate to deliver his address. He then left. U.D.P.’s Collet Area Representative Patrick Faber was present at the start of day two, but he too left early in the debate. Notably, Hugo Patt and Tracy Panton are dealing with personal and family matters. No one expects the U.D.P.’s Queen Square Area Representative, Denise Barrow, to appear. This morning, Prime Minister John Briceño announced that if opposition members are not present when Pickstock Area Representative Anthony Mahler finishes his presentation, then the budget debate will conclude. But Faber and Barrow did, in fact, arrive moments later. Here is how that played out.

 

Prime Minister John Briceno

“For the past two days, I don’t think if the opposition has spent combined two or three hours in this house, I think that is a lot. And I see that they are not here again. I want to put the opposition on notice that after the member from Pickstock finishes his presentation, if they are not here, then it is best we just put this debate to an end.”

 

Patrick Faber, Area Representative, Collet

“We have now endured I believe a full day and half, endure yes, because you feel that because the members on this honorable house, if they would focus on how many members are out or in the backroom, but wherever we are we listen to the proceedings. That is why my friend from Freetown, when I arrive on Wednesday I could tell him all he said. But you are attempting to intentionally paint a picture that the opposition is delinquent. I will show you delinquency now. Let us see who is delinquent. For you to get up and say you will close the debate, after you had us listen all yesterday to all PUP presentation, and you know it is only myself and the leader of the opposition, because, we have already given the explanation for other members. So if I would have gone on Wednesday or Thursday, there would be nobody to rebut you. So let us get it on.”