Governor-General Dame Sandra Mason, 72 will become Barbados’ first President after she secured the support of all members of the House of Assembly and all but one Senator who voted on the matter yesterday October 20, 2021, in a joint sitting of Parliament.
Prime Minister Mia Mottley and Opposition Leader Bishop Joseph Atherley both nominated Dame Sandra to succeed Queen Elizabeth II as Barbados’ Head of State, and all but one lawmaker present at the joint session of the two chambers of Parliament voted in her favour.
In the Upper House, only Senator Lucille Moe was absent. Of the remaining 19 Senators, there were 18 who voted ‘yes’, while there was one unreturned ballot, presumably from Senator Caswell Franklyn who walked out of the Senate after insisting that the ballot paper was not valid.
“I have an objection, Mister Speaker,” Senator Franklyn said, with the Speaker replying that “in accordance with the Constitution, I am therefore suspending this sitting”.
Following that, both Houses of Parliament broke up and met in separate rooms to conduct secret ballots on the issue. When voting in the Senate began, however, Franklyn made yet another issue, this time over the votes.
“This is a null and void document. It appears out of nowhere,” he said, prompting Senate President Reginald Farley to respond, “I have ruled it genuine.
“You will not treat me this way today,” Franklyn said, adding, “you cannot proclaim something lawful that is not based on the Constitution or statute. I’m not going to put up with it. It’s up to you to get rid of me.”
When the Senate President said his matter had been brought up, Franklyn insisted it had not been addressed, stating that “this paper has no credibility.” It appears unexpectedly.
