Sista B Misses Twenty-eight House Meeting in Succession
Another issue that was brought up during today’s House Sitting is the prolonged absence of Queen’s Square Area Representative Denise “Sista B” Barrow. Barrow, who has been a fixture in the Queen’s Square Constituency for several decades, is a no-show in the House of Representatives. Today, the PM had the exact number of absences for Barrow in the National Assembly – twenty-eight. Following his observation, we asked the Leader of the Opposition about the matter after the day’s proceedings. Here are those comments.
Prime Minister John Briceño
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Today is the 28th House Meeting that we have since we were elected Madam Speaker – 28th House Meetings and the Honorable Member from Queen Square has refused to come to House Meetings. I find that disrespectful to this House, disrespectful to the people of Queen Square, Madam Speaker. I find it disrespectful that the Leader of the Opposition, her nephew, I am asking her, she has a right.”
Shyne Barrow
Shyne Barrow, Leader of the Opposition
“Madam Speaker, if the Prime Minister has a problem, he can raise that in a substantive motion, Madam Speaker. He’s not supposed to use this opportunity to introduce a bill to do that, Madam Speaker.”
House Speaker
“Wait, wait, Mr. Leader of the Opposition.”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“The Speaker can allow me to bring up something such as this issue. Madam Speaker, the point is…”
House Speaker
“Continue, Prime Minister. No, we won’t have that. Continue, Prime Minister.”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Madam Speaker, this is the very point: that the Leader of the Opposition is the nephew of the honourable member from Queen’s Square, so it’s an embarrassment on him, that he can’t get his aunt to come.”
House Speaker
“I’m trying – I want – Mr. Prime Minister, my apologies for the interruption. Mr. Leader of Opposition, please. If you could, Mr. Leader of Opposition, I’ve said it, this is the third time, please.”
Prime Minister John Briceño
“Madam Speaker, I just – I think it’s just very important to make the point that she continues to collect her salary and refuses to represent the people of Queen’s Square. If she was not interested, then why did she put her name on a ballot? She could resign right now, you know, and we have re election right now. But I’m coming to the end, to the point that you are making. Madam Speaker, I am asking the Chairman that’s responsible for the Standing Orders, Madam Speaker, to make an amendment to the Standing Orders, so we can deal with any member that refuses to come to host meetings.”
Shyne Barrow
“If the government has a problem with the standing orders, change it. She’s complying with the standing orders. The standing orders require that she give notice to the Speaker of the House, and the Speaker excuses her. If the government objects to that, then they have the majority to change it and require that either she comes to the House or she doesn’t.”
Reporter
“But you are making a point on semantics.”
Shyne Barrow
“I’m not making a point on semantics. The spirit of representation is that you come here and represent. In your opinion, what you’re doing. It’s a factual.”
Reporter
“No, no, no, that’s why it’s called a House of Representatives. You come to represent, Sir.”
Shyne Barrow
“Again, that is arguable.”
