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by pltm
(PLTM) - Premier and Minister for Finance, Hon. Andrew Fahie has declared that although Fourth District Representative, Hon. Mark Vanterpool has been sworn in following the back and forth that stemmed from his resignation, there might still be repercussions for his actions at the next general elections.
The Premier, whose intervention into the impasse between Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Julian Willock and the Fourth District Representative led to the administration of oath on Tuesday, July 16, warned that the constituents will say in a few years how they felt about the resignation.
In a statement on the matter, Hon. Fahie suggested that the penalty for Hon. Vanterpool's actions would be decided with an X.
"I trust the people and respect their will and intelligence. They will have the opportunity to judge the actions and conduct of their representatives. They will articulate how they feel about the inexplicable resignation of a man who pleaded for their vote and then abandoned them after the cataclysmic shift in power to a new government revealed itself," the Premier stated.
"They will let Mr. Vanterpool and this House know whether they felt betrayed and deceived because of his resignation, his public videos on social media and his sudden volte face. The ultimate power and final say resides in the hands of the people when they exercise their right to make that almighty “X” to elect their representative," Hon. Fahie added.
While referencing his intervention that resulted in the closer of the ongoing saga, the Premier said that he had to think long and hard before speaking with Hon. Willock.
"I therefore thought long and hard about my decision to approach the Honourable Speaker and ask that Mr. Vanterpool be allowed to take the oath and be sworn in as a Member of this House. In balancing the scales of public justice, I considered the fact that the guiding light in my political philosophy has always been to put the people first. It is my overriding responsibility and objective," he said.
The Premier therefore thanked the Speaker for agreeing to administer Hon. Vanterpool's oath on Tuesday.
"I wish to thank you, Mr. Speaker for being open to suasion and for being so considerate and receptive to the overtures made by myself and my friend, the Honourable Leader of the Opposition, and making today possible. You have served this Honourable House well and enhanced the integrity of your office."
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