I will not be in Parliament in ‘ungodly hours’ – Leacock

Member of Parliament for Central Kingstown, St Clair Leacock voiced strong opposition in Parliament last Thursday, January 9, 2025, to debate on the 2025 Estimates going until midnight and beyond.

On that day, Minister of Finance, Camillo Gonsalves, presented the 2025 Estimates before the House of Assembly.

Before the minister made his presentation, Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves rose and asked that the hours of sitting

for that day be exempt from the regular hours of sitting, in accordance with Standing Order 12.5.

Minister Gonsalves, before moving the motion for the

presentation, indicated to the House that the debate on this year’s Estimates could possibly go up to 3.30 a.m the next day.

The Central Kingstown representative however, rose and strongly objected to the debate going on until after around 10 or 10.30 p.m.

“The rules clearly anticipate that we should present ourselves at a time that the people of this country can hear what we have to say.”

Considering the Estimates debate to be “a most important subject matter,” Leacock argued that “it is disingenuous, it is unfair, it is reckless and irresponsible” that such debate should be prolonged way into the night and early morning.

He made it clear that he will not subject himself to “that abuse”, adding that he would be able to stay until 10:00 p.m or 10:30 p.m.

For him, having to stay in Parliament anytime beyond that, is being excessive and abusive on his body and soul.

“Do not ask me to be here 1-2-3- or 4 o’clock on a morning,” Leacock stressed.

Leacock, a Vice President of the New Democratic Party added, “we are insulting the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines by having them in these graveyard ungodly hours, setting up to hear what their representatives have to say”.

This was not the first time that Leacock was complaining about late hours of sitting of the House of Assembly.

On Thursday, he made it clear, “I am not going to be a part of that any more”.

In response to Leacock’s statements, Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves told the House that the charges which the Central Kingstown representative made were unreasonable.

“We are in a condition of real urgency,” Gonsalves noted.