Appointment of a Deputy Speaker After Five Years

PRESS RELEASE — On the occasion of the first session of the Twelfth Parliament of Saint Lucia, on Tuesday 17th August 2021, Honourable Jeremiah Norbert, the Member of Parliament for Micoud North was appointed to serve as Deputy Speaker to the House of Assembly. This appointment of a Deputy Speaker comes after five years of dereliction of duty by the previous administration. Instead, the former Prime Minister appointed every Member of Parliament from his Party as a Cabinet Minister, fulfilling their needs whilst neglecting their duty to fill the position of Deputy Speaker, a condition of the Constitution of Saint Lucia.

In his Throne Speech, His Excellency Errol Charles, Deputy to the Governor General reiterated this administration’s commitment to serving the people of Saint Lucia and explained that “In the spirit of change, my Government intends to uphold the Constitution of Saint Lucia both in words and deeds. And so, out of respect for the people and the Constitution of Saint Lucia, which seeks to provide order and good governance in the management of our country’s affairs, the intended structures of the Parliament will be observed. Provision has, therefore, been made to ensure that the position of a Deputy Speaker for the House of Assembly is occupied.”

The appointment of a Deputy Speaker by the Philip J. Pierre administration signals this Government’s regard for the people and the laws that govern Saint Lucia; a return to good governance.