Foreign Affairs Minister Kerrie Symmonds jumped to defend Prime Minister Mia Mottley against harsh attacks. Opposition Leader Ralph Thorne had accused Mottley of acting like a dictator during recent government sessions. Symmonds fired back during heated House of Assembly discussions about parliamentary reform. He challenged Thorne to name exactly which powers the Prime Minister should lose. The minister refused to let the criticism stand without a fight.
Symmonds compared Barbados to America during his angry response to the opposition attacks. He pointed out that US Presidents can sign executive orders that destroy previous laws on climate change and immigration. American leaders can also overturn Supreme Court decisions about abortion rights with just their signature. Barbados works differently because no Prime Minister can issue decrees or executive orders here. The country must follow established legal procedures for all government actions.
The minister attacked Thorne for dismissing the Parliamentary Reform Commission's important work. He accused the opposition leader of wasting time with empty arguments about dictatorship and republican government. Symmonds admitted that people could debate whether the executive branch works too closely with lawmakers. However, he demanded that Thorne prove his claims about excessive Prime Minister powers. The minister said Thorne offered meaningless talk without real solutions or specific examples of abuse.
Symmonds compared Barbados to America during his angry response to the opposition attacks. He pointed out that US Presidents can sign executive orders that destroy previous laws on climate change and immigration. American leaders can also overturn Supreme Court decisions about abortion rights with just their signature. Barbados works differently because no Prime Minister can issue decrees or executive orders here. The country must follow established legal procedures for all government actions.
The minister attacked Thorne for dismissing the Parliamentary Reform Commission's important work. He accused the opposition leader of wasting time with empty arguments about dictatorship and republican government. Symmonds admitted that people could debate whether the executive branch works too closely with lawmakers. However, he demanded that Thorne prove his claims about excessive Prime Minister powers. The minister said Thorne offered meaningless talk without real solutions or specific examples of abuse.
