Opposition MP Bradley Felix has pushed back against claims by the Saint Lucia Labour Party and its surrogates that he walked out of the House of Assembly in protest against Opposition Leader Allen Chastanet. Felix categorically denied the allegations, asserting that his departure was, in fact, a demonstration against what he saw as unfair treatment of Chastanet by House Speaker Claudius Francis.
According to Felix, the Opposition Leader was repeatedly denied the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the debate, while government MPs were freely allowed to speak on matters beyond the scope of the scheduled bills, including the Real Estate and Brokers Bill. He further criticized what he described as a pattern of bias in parliamentary proceedings.
“The claim that I walked out because of Allen Chastanet is completely false,” Felix stated.
Felix highlighted a particularly tense exchange when Chastanet attempted to comment on the controversial Orange Grove Daher Mall purchase. The Speaker’s repeated interruptions and refusal to allow the Opposition Leader to fully express his views led to what Felix described as an unfair silencing of the Opposition.
“I was especially upset when the Speaker refused to let Mr. Chastanet respond to comments made by other MPs,” Felix explained. “It was clear that there was no equal opportunity for debate, and that’s why I chose to walk out.”
