The primary day of the parliamentary debate over the EC$1.3 billion price range in Antigua and Barbuda witnessed an absence as opposition legislators boycotted the session.
Stories are that the opposition insisted that there was not sufficient time to adequately put together to debate the fiscal package deal.
The controversy over debate scheduling
This dispute arose following the price range presentation by Prime Minister Browne.
Lawyer-Normal Steadroy Benjamin proposed the controversy at 9:30 a.m. the next Monday.
Nevertheless, this suggestion met with resistance from the opposition, who argued for a later begin date. They advocated for the controversy to start on Thursday, December 21, standing agency of their disagreement.
Authorities’s response and compromise effort
The federal government, citing the approaching unavailability of a number of ministers who had abroad commitments, emphasised the necessity to start the controversy sooner.
A compromise was tried following the intervention of Speaker Sir Gerald Watt. A revised movement was introduced, suggesting the controversy begin on Tuesday.
Whereas this movement acquired backing from authorities legislators, the opposition remained adamant a couple of Thursday begin, with Opposition Chief Jamale Pringle labeling the revised timeline as “unfair.”
