By Elesha George
If there’s one book that Speaker of the House Sir Gerald Watt lives by, it’s Erskin May, a book regarded as the Bible of parliamentary procedure that he has, so many times in his 10-year tenure, referred members of the Lower House to consult.
Considered to be the most authoritative and influential work on parliamentary procedure and the constitutional conventions, it has been used by Sir Gerald to manage the disruptive moments of parliament. Now having retired from his post, he hopes that his efforts to reign in parliamentary proceedings will continue with his successor.
On his exit, Sir Gerald, reflecting on his achievements during his tenure, highlighted his efforts to modernise Parliament’s Standing Orders as one of his proudest achievements. The rules, which had not been updated since 1967 were, in his view, woefully outdated and ill-suited to the contemporary needs of Antigua and Barbuda’s Parliament. Drawing inspiration from Trinidad’s Parliament, which he considers one of the best-run in the region, he successfully introduced new rules over several years.
“The rules of Parliament are governed not only by Standing Orders, but by parliamentary procedure as laid out in Erskine May and other authoritative sources,” Sir Gerald explained. He noted that while there was resistance initially, both sides of the House eventually accepted the changes as they realised the updates were for the best.
As he steps down, Sir Gerald hopes that his successor will continue the work he has started, particularly regarding the creation of committees that are critical to the effective functioning of Parliament. He lamented the absence of a standing committee on bills and a privilege committee, which would hold parliamentarians accountable for their conduct.
“We don’t have a privilege committee; parliamentarians can pretty much get away with anything. They can get away with anything that they say and do to a member of the public. And a privilege committee can’t call them to order. We need that, and it is time the government cooperates with the parliament and gets that done. I regret we were not able to get there, but I think we will in the future.”
He also highlighted the need for Parliament to have its own budget, independent of the government, to ensure it can carry out its functions effectively. He pointed out that many parliaments in the region, including Trinidad and Barbados, operate independently of the government with their own funding, but Antigua and Barbuda’s Parliament still relies on government allocations, which can hinder progress.
“Parliament is not a government department [but] it’s being run like a government department. It does not have its budget, so even if we wanted to go along and set up our committees, we don’t have any funding. We don’t have money; we have to ask for the money, and if we don’t have the money, the project is dead.”
Any Regrets?
The position of Speaker of The House can be very controversial and sometimes the Speaker may get drawn into political squabbles.
Sir Gerald has expressed some regrets during his time in office. He admitted that he allowed himself to be drawn into public disputes on one or two occasions, though he maintained that his responses, while harsh, were in defence of the Parliament. “I don’t regret responding to that person or persons, but I think I could have been less harsh,” he said.
“And I still get the criticism and I still get blows from the same circles and I haven’t responded,” Sir Gerald chuckled.
He also lamented on rhetoric that insinuated that he was biased in his decisions at times – something he vehemently disputes — stating that despite past political differences, he always treated former Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer, and others, with respect. “You have never heard him accuse me of being biased, and that says something,” Sir Gerald remarked.
“So, I would say to those coming in, they’re going to get that. It’s going to be said but parliamentarians are human beings. They get frustrated; they get angry; they’re also subject to the ebbs and flows of a political machinery behind them which sometimes pushes them into a direction that they really should not go.”
One of the enduring challenges, he explained, is maintaining respect for the Speaker’s chair. “You cannot allow a member of Parliament to attack the Speaker’s chair; it’s not the Speaker himself. You cannot disrespect and ignore the rulings of the chair.”
Sir Gerald announced his retirement at the end of last week’s parliamentary session. At 85 years old, Sir Gerald — who has served as Speaker of the House since 2014 — said it was the right time for him to step down and allow a younger successor to take over.
Reflecting on his tenure, he revealed that he had planned to retire earlier, but Prime Minister Gaston Browne had requested that he remain in the role for an additional term, particularly after the opposition made a significant electoral showing that left many wondering how the Antigua Barbuda Labour Party would maintain its parliamentary majority. Sir Gerald honoured the Prime Minister’s request, but with the session now ending, he feels it’s time for someone else to step in.
“I think it was time now to just turn over to somebody with fresh legs, younger legs, and to start their career,” he said.
The current Vice President of the Senate, Osbert Fredrick, will replace Sir Gerald at the next parliamentary session of the Lower House.
In the meantime, Sir Gerald plans to remain active continuing his role as the chairman of IG Limited in Falmouth Harbour and lending his expertise as one of the Founders of Watt, Dorsett, Hewlett Law Firm.
