PM excused from Parliament

THE Prime Minister has been excused from Parliament, as he is suffering from covid19.

On Tuesday, the Office of the Prime Minister announced that Dr Rowley had tested covid19 positive. Rowley has been in quarantine at the Prime Minister's official residence in Blenheim, Tobago, since then.

Speaking in the House of Representatives on Friday, Deputy Speaker Esmond Forde said he had received a written request from Rowley to be excused only for the day's sitting. Forde added that Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George and Chaguanas West MP Dinesh Rambally had also asked to be excused. Forde granted all three requests.

Under Standing Order 115 (1), members who are unable to attend a sitting of the House must inform the Clerk as early as possible of their inability to attend and seek a leave of absence.

Standing Order 115(2) adds that any member who misses six consecutive sittings within the same parliamentary sessions without leave from the Speaker shall vacate their seat in the House in accordance with Section 49(2) of the Constitution.

Despite being in quarantine, Rowley has continued to function as Prime Minister and Caricom chairman. He chaired Thursday's Cabinet meeting virtually from Tobago.

Rowley also held separate virtual meetings with US Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Maarten Wetselaar, director of integrated gas, renewables and energy solutions at Shell Global and Eugene Okpere, president and country chair of Shell TT.