Opposition Senator suggests former minister, absent since last year, vacate seat

Opposition Senator Caswell Franklyn has demanded that fellow lawmaker Senator Lucille Moe, again marked absent during a sitting of the Upper Chamber, be dismissed and her seat vacated.

The development arose shortly after President of the Senate Reginald Farley delivered announcements regarding the tardiness and absence of senators for the day’s sitting, declaring the former Minister of Information, Broadcasting and Public Affairs absent.

Senator Moe had been absent from the Senate for more than half a year, in contravention of the Constitution, Senator Franklyn told lawmakers.

He told the Senate President: “I don’t take any pleasure in this, but right now our Constitution is being infringed to the point where we have not seen Senator Moe since December in this place. December to now is eight months and you, Sir, have the authority to grant her leave up to six.

“So accordingly, her seat must be declared vacant in accordance with the Constitution of Barbados. She is not here; as far as I am aware, she is out of the island. The president can give leave to any senator up to six months. Initially, you a have a 40-day period, I think it is, then after that the president can extend and extend up to six months. The six months have passed and the seat should now, therefore, be declared vacant.

“The Senate is now acting outside of the Constitution and I would recommend, Sir, that we take steps to fix it. Right now, Sir, this seat should be declared vacant,” Franklyn insisted.

After a brief consultation with Clerk of  Parliament Pedro Eastmond, Farley responded by stating that “the matter is under consideration”.

He added: “I have received a request for leave of absence which I’m taking advice from the clerks [on] and will make a decision on that very shortly.”

Under Section 39 of the Constitution, a senator may not be absent from Barbados for more than 40 days at any time when the Senate is sitting, without the leave of the President of the Senate.

The President of the Senate may grant leave to senators to be absent from the country for any period not exceeding six months at any one time, and a final 30 days before vacating their seat, with extensions set by a Senate resolution up to 150 days usually for appealing the vacancy. (KC)