Former Premier, First District Representative Honourable Andrew Fahie has one final chance to participate in a House of Assembly debate or otherwise have his seat deemed vacant.
On Tuesday September 27th, the House of Assembly will commence the Seventh Sitting of the Fourth Session. This will be the third consecutive sitting Fahie is expected to be absent from, and as explained by Premier Dr. the Honourable Natalio Wheatley, his final chance at keeping his seat.
“According to the constitution, there are certain ways that persons vacate their seat… one is by resigning but also the seat is vacated if you miss a certain amount of sittings in the House of Assembly, and according to the standing orders you cannot miss three consecutive sittings”, he said.
SEAT WILL NOT BE VACATED AT THE START OF THE SITTING
Wheatley went on to clarify that absence from Tuesday’s sitting alone will not seal the deal on Fahie’s seat being vacated, and that he will need to miss every debate outlined in the sitting’s order papers for the seat to be officially vacated.
A process that he noted could take some time.
“by the time that sitting finishes, which could take a while based on the length of the order paper. This last sitting took probably about two months so it could take a while because we have some heavy hitting subjects on this order paper including the Liquor Licence Act and the Police Act. When that sitting is concluded and if Honourable Fahie has not taken part the seat will vacate”, he said.
BY-ELECTION NOT SET IN STONE
Wheatley also noted that the length of the sitting could also determine whether or not a byelection will be held should the seat be vacated. “According to the Elections act, depending on the amount of time before the election, a by-election can be called. There are situations of course where you wouldn’t have a bi-election and that depends on how close the seat becomes vacant before the dissolution of t