Barbadians as young as 18 who will have the opportunity to sit in the Senate and the House of Assembly after the Constitution is amended will have a tremendous opportunity and serious responsibility which one of the country’s newest legislators is hoping they “grasp with both hands”.
The advice to future teen Members of Parliament and Senators came on Tuesday from parliamentary representative for the City of Bridgetown, Corey Lane, as he delivered his maiden speech at the first sitting of the House of Assembly, during debate on the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2022.
The amendments include decreasing the age at which a Barbadian citizen can serve in either house of Parliament from 21 to 18, a move which is necessary for the appointment of 18-year-old Barbados Scholar Khaleel Kothdiwala whom Prime Minister Mia Mottley has recommended for the Upper House.
Lane, 39, who won his seat on his first outing as a political candidate in the January 19 general elections, admitted to initially being unsure that individuals that young would be ready to serve at that level.
However, the newly appointed Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs said he was fully behind the amendment.
“The first time that this was mentioned to me, I had my own reservations. When we look at the other place [Senate], we know that you have the opportunity to represent interest groups, and I do believe at 18, someone can represent an interest group called the youth.
“When I think of the House of Assembly, though, and carrying the weight of a constituency, I had my own reservations. But I do believe in the strength of a democracy that says if the majority of persons within a constituency have assessed you, have heard you, have walked with you, and they believe that you are fit – like the Honourable Member for St Joseph mentioned, there are some young people way beyond their age in maturity and responsibility – that our democratic levers allow for us to assess and decide, then I am fine with that. Who am I to stand in the way of that? And, therefore, I can now give this amendment my full support,” Lane said.
The former member of the Barbados Youth Parliament urged those who will be given the chance to serve to “grab the opportunity with both hands and to go forth and be substance over form”.
As for the other amendment to give the political party with the second-highest votes in an election the opportunity to select two Senators if there is no Leader of the Opposition, as is the case now following the Barbados Labour Party’s clean sweep at the polls, Lane said it was a “no brainer” to support. (DP)
