SENATE PRESIDENT “AT A LOSS” OVER NO-SHOW OF OPPOSITION FOR BUDGET DEBATE

Opposition Senators stayed away from debate on the 2024 Budget in Parliament’s Upper House on Friday, as was the case with their colleagues in the House of Representatives on Tuesday. The senators absent were Shawn Nicholas, Johnathan Joseph, Alex Browne and David Massiah of the United Progressive Party, and Senator for the Barbuda Council, Fabian Jones. Senate President Alincia Williams Grant says early notice was given to all senators about the shift in the schedule for the new session of parliament, including the budget debate. Senator Williams Grant says she first got notice of the date for the Throne Speech early November, and relayed this information to all lawmakers in the Upper House. She is therefore at a loss as to why opposition senators stayed away on Friday.