By Robert A. Emmanuel
Antigua and Barbuda’s newest Senator is expected to make his first official appearance today as the Upper House is scheduled to meet at 9.30am.
Senator Dwayne George was sworn in last week as the replacement for Senator Caleb Gardiner who was appointed to the Senate last December.
However, Gardiner was recently appointed by the government to serve as a diplomat in Washington, DC as he furthered his education.
The appointment of Senator George came following the move by the ruling administration to name him as caretaker and presumed Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) nominee to contest the St Mary’s South constituency in a pending by-election.
The Senate will be meeting to debate and vote on amendments to the Registered Land Act, the Mount St John’s Medical Centre Act, and the Immigration and Passport Act.
Additionally, the Senate will debate the appointment of Ian Hughes as the country’s newest Supervisor of Elections.
One of the first tasks for the new Supervisor of Elections, if he is officially confirmed, would be to manage the by-election between former MP, Kelvin ‘Shugy’ Simon and Senator George.
The vacancy in the St Mary’s South constituency was created following former MP Simon’s resignation from the role of constituency representative last month, bypassing the election petition raised against him.
As mandated by the Constitution, the newly appointed Senator would also have to resign from this post to contest the by-election, which had also forced Simon to resign from his civil service post to contest the January 18, 2023 elections.
Section 31 (b) of the Constitution states: “Every Senator shall vacate his seat in the Senate … if he is with his consent nominated as a candidate for election to the House.”
Section 39 (b) of the Constitution also states: “No person shall be qualified to be elected as a member of the House who … is a Senator or temporary member of the Senate.”
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has said on state media that the decision to replace former St Mary’s South caretaker Senator Samantha Marshall, and the process to find her replacement was made months prior.
PM Browne said that George, a former member of the opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) was viewed as the best possible candidate for the area.
He also confirmed to Observer media that if the new Senator wins the by-election, another individual will be appointed to serve as a senator, and if he loses the by-election, he would be reappointed to the Senate.
The new senator blamed the UPP for the lack of support given to him as a reason for crossing the political aisle; however, members of the UPP have labelled his switch an act of betrayal.