Senate Bill Passes After Dispute Vote

A vote in the Senate has left everyone asking the same question: who won, the Ayes or the Noes? After debate on the National Security Council Amendment Bill, the Acting President of the Senate asked who was in favor. Not one senator in the chamber said “Aye.” Only the UDP senators said “Nay.” The Noes had it, and the Acting President could not say otherwise. Still, the question was put a second time. Was the process followed, or was it taken for granted? Here is how it played out.

 

Linsford Castillo, Vice President of the Senate

“All those in favor kindly say “I”. Those against kindly say no.

 

“No”

 

Sheena Pitts, Lead Opposition Senator

They don’t, they don’t. We all heard the same thing.

 

Linsford Castillo

“Ok Members I will pose the question a second time and thereafter we will be able to go to a division if necessary.”

 

Sheena Pitts

“Mr. President may I proceed with the point of order, standing order forty-six and may I read. Thank you, at the conclusion of a debate on any question, the president or chairman shall put that question for decision of the Senate and shall collect the voices of the I or the No after which no further debate shall take place on that question. The result shall be declared by the president or chairman, stating I think the I have it or No have it, as the case may be. We are saying, having collected the voices, you yourself in my earshot said you did not hear the I, which means the no carried the vote, which is prompting  you to want to ask the question again. Mr. President in accordance with standing order forty-six, two, I call for a division. 10:16Nine senators voted in favor and four against.”

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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