Senator Courtenay Tells Sheena Pitts: ‘You Chose to Opt Out of the Budget Debate’

The Senate debate on the 2026/2027 Revenue & Expenditure Estimates ended in controversy Friday night. That’s because the debate concluded without contributions from United Democratic Party (UDP) Senator Sheena Pitts.

When it was time for the senator to provide contributions, she was not in the chambers. 

According to Senator for Government Business Eamon Courtenay, it was “not unprecedented” for a debate to close before every senator had spoken. He cited two prior instances from prior years.

The UDP condemned the move as an attack on democracy. UDP leader Tracy Panton issued an online statement, saying, “Gutter tactics in the Senate. At the close of Women’s Month, we have muted the voice of one of our women in today’s Senate debate. Shame on the president. Shame on the Leader of Government’s Business.”

Senate President Carolyn Trench-Sandiford said she closed the debate because there were no indications from the Opposition bench that a senator on that side wished to speak.

“When I turned to my right, there was no one who stood up. If no one stands up, then my next move is to call the leader of government business to close the debate… I cannot call someone if they have not stood up,” Trench-Sandiford said.

After the debate had already concluded, Senator Pitts spoke, expressing disappointment. She said, “It is rather unfortunate that my interruption to the House of Commons invited your good self to permit the closure of debates, knowing that I had every intention to contribute to the debate… There is never a time I come here to not contribute to nation-building.”

Senate President Trench-Sandiford asserted that proceedings cannot be held back in the absence of any senator. Meanwhile, Senator Courtenay cited that “Senator Guerra spoke for forty-five minutes, and Senator Pitts was outside, and she chose to be outside.” He said the debate can be heard throughout the building, “so she knew she was next. If she is not here, we proceed.”

“The closure of this debate… betrays the population of the people to which this side of the bench represents, and that strikes more gravely at the heart of what we call a democratic system because you don’t do things high-handed like that,” Senator Pitts added.