Parliament to Be Recalled

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Politics

Sunday, 22 February 2009 15:27

By Amanda Boyce

Antigua and Barbuda will see history unfold later this week, when the government recalls Parliament, after it was dissolved earlier this month to pave the way for general elections.
Attorney General Justin Simon has indicated that Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer will advise Governor General Dame Louise Lake-Tack to summon both the lower and upper houses.
The House of Representatives resumes on Thursday, while the Senate resumes on Friday.
This step has never been taken, but the Attorney General says section 60, subsection 4 of the Constitution provides for this measure, "whenever an emergency arises of such a nature that in the opinion of the prime minister it is necessary for Parliament to be summoned."

Simon said this decision follows an emergency Cabinet meeting Saturday evening to discuss the impact of the operations of the various Stanford owned agencies and the adverse effects the takeover of these agencies might have on employment and the economy.

"The Prime Minister, the Finance and Economy Minister, and myself on Friday met with the various heads of the local and offshore Stanford banks to be apprised of their operations and the effect that the receivership was having on their continued viability," he explained.

He added, "The meeting also took into consideration the number of suppliers, some of which are owed money from as far back as November, and the recent withdrawals of deposits from the banks, uncertainties in respect of employment and the general economic climate."

Simon noted however that recalling Parliament will not affect the election date or any of the standing preparations before elections.

"If Parliament is not dissolved before, it will automatically stand dissolved on March 12, Election Day," he said.

PM Spencer announced the date for general elections on February 17, 2009, the same day news broke that Sir R Allen Stanford, the substantial shareholder of the Stanford Group of Companies, would be charged with fraud. Nomination Day is still set for February 25.

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