Antigua and Barbuda Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle was ordered to leave the Parliament on Tuesday ahead of the Governor General’s throne speech during a joint sitting.

Senate President Alicia Williams-Grant cited Section 48(1) of the Constitution as she instructed Pringle to leave the parliamentary chamber after he failed to take the Oath of Allegiance during the first sitting of Parliament last week.

The constitutional provision states that no member of Parliament may take part in proceedings of the House until they has taken the oath.

Williams-Grant said she had attempted to address the issue privately with Pringle in an effort to avoid public embarrassment and delays during the sitting.

According to the Senate President, a recommendation was made for Pringle to skip the session, but he refused.

Pringle later exited the chamber without incident and was joined by the four opposition senators.

Speaking with state broadcaster ABS following the throne speech, Prime Minister Gaston Browne said the rules governing Parliament were clear.

“They need to learn to pick their fights. They have accepted that the constitutional provisions are such that each member who participates in these formal proceedings must have taken the oath,” Browne said.

The Prime Minister added that Pringle was aware there would be no opportunity for him to take the oath before the sitting.

He also noted that Barbuda MP Trevor Walker did not attend because he had also not yet taken the oath.

Browne rejected suggestions of political discrimination, saying both Pringle and Walker would be allowed to take their oaths at the next ordinary sitting of Parliament.