VIDEO: Senate President Rules Quinn-Williams Cannot Address PM Browne’s “Attack” Just Yet

Senate President Blocks Senator Quinn-Williams’ Response Pending Review of Statement

Senate President Alincia Williams-Grant on Tuesday ruled that new Opposition Senator Pearl Quinn-Williams could not address a reported personal attack by Prime Minister Gaston Browne until the President had reviewed the statement in question.

During her inaugural address to the Senate, Senator Quinn-Williams attempted to raise the matter but was swiftly interrupted by Williams-Grant, who explained that proper protocol had not been followed.

Williams-Grant outlined her reasoning, stating that while she was vaguely aware of the issue through a call from the Opposition Leader earlier in the day, she had not been given the opportunity to review the senator’s statement before the session began.

“I have to see the script; I have to see what your statement is for me to say yes, it is appropriate for this time,” Williams-Grant told Quinn-Williams. She added that the matter, reportedly stemming from comments made in the press last week, could not be addressed without prior notice and formal review.

The Senate President cited her busy schedule leading up to the sitting, including traffic delays and preparations for the session, as contributing factors to her inability to review the statement.

“Today is Tuesday, and I came up early—was it Friday?—to prepare my plans, and I didn’t see any notification from the Clerk that there was any personal matter raised,” Williams-Grant clarified.

While denying Quinn-Williams the opportunity to respond to the alleged attack at this time, Williams-Grant assured the new senator that she would consider the statement for a future session, if appropriate.

“I will review the statement, and if necessary, on the next occasion you would be able to address it. But I cannot allow you to do so this morning,” the Senate President affirmed.

In concluding, Williams-Grant encouraged Senator Quinn-Williams to proceed with her inaugural remarks, emphasizing that the allotted time for new senators’ addresses was reserved for such formal introductions.

Quinn-Williams acknowledged the ruling and ended with her inaugural remarks.

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