The Leader of the Opposition in the Anguilla House of Assembly, Evans M Rogers, and his colleagues, Othlyn Vanterpool and Edison Baird, are seeking legal advice aimed at contesting the validity of the meeting of the House on Friday, October 25.
They are contending that they were not properly informed and, in one case not all, about the emergency meeting called by the Speaker, Mrs Barbara Webster-Bourne, resulting in their absence from the proceedings. They further contend that, with the added absence of the Government’s Elected Member, Mr Walcott Richardson, that the meeting of the House lacked the required quorum to conduct business. As a result they are arguing that, numerically,the House was in no position to pass the Framework for Fiscal Responsibility Bill 2013 and the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (Amendment) Bill 2013.
The three Opposition Members wrote to Governor Christina Scott about their concerns and requested her not to assent to the legislation. However, she stated, among other matters, that “the legislation was passed in a way that was both legal and legitimate”. She added that “the legislation will now come to me in the usual way that would enable my assent.”
On Wednesday this week, Messrs Rogers, Vanterpool and Baird appeared on Talk Anguilla, a Radio Anguilla programme moderated by Keithstone Greaves. They explained their absence from the House of Assembly meeting, their understanding of the Rules of Procedure; and the particular section of the Anguilla Constitution relating to a quorum of the House.
The members of the Opposition indicated that they are seeking to resolve the matter relating to the validity of the House of Assembly meeting in the High Court.
