Prime Minister Gaston Browne on Monday urged government lawmakers not to become complacent after the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party’s landslide election victory, telling newly sworn-in Members of Parliament that their success at the polls was “not a mandate for slothfulness.”
Browne made the remarks during the first sitting of the new Parliament following the swearing-in of members at Parliament Building.
“But as I would have said on several occasions, the victory is not a mandate for slothfulness,” Browne said. “If anything, it is actually a mandate for us to serve more faithfully the people of Antigua and Barbuda.”
The prime minister said MPs were expected to “work unrelentingly for the empowerment of the people of Antigua and Barbuda” and reminded them that Parliament remained “the top decision-making body in the land.”
“We do not want individuals who will come to Parliament when they feel like,” Browne said, adding that members were expected to attend sittings unless prevented by illness, official travel or other extenuating circumstances.
He said lawmakers had a “fiduciary responsibility” to represent constituents “with dignity and certainly with professionalism.”
Earlier in his address, Browne congratulated Osbert Frederick on his reappointment as Speaker of the House and Philmore Benjamin on being elected Deputy Speaker.
“The Parliament remains a sacred chamber of responsibility of our democracy,” Browne said.
He told Frederick and Benjamin that they had a responsibility to operate “with wisdom, fairness, and certainly firmness,” while maintaining the dignity and integrity of the House.
“You are entrusted with safeguarding the dignity, order, and integrity of this honorable house,” Browne said. “We expect, notwithstanding the challenges, that this honorable house does not descend into chaos.”
The prime minister praised Frederick for being “fair and firm” during his previous tenure as Speaker and said the government expected him to continue that tradition.
Browne also called for unity among lawmakers as the government begins its new term.
“Let us continue to work in a united way to continue to advance Antigua and Barbuda as we seek to expand the Renaissance, this new era of progress and development,” he said.
He ended by congratulating all elected members and singled out veteran parliamentarian Stedroy Benjamin, noting that the St. John’s City South MP was taking the parliamentary oath for the eighth consecutive occasion.