Former House Speaker and UPP Chairperson D. Gisele Isaac has criticized how officials handled Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle at the May 26 joint sitting of Parliament. She made the comments in a column published on the Real News Antigua website.

Isaac said Pringle attended the sitting after receiving an official summons. She argued that officials should not have ordered him to leave after he arrived at Parliament.

She said Pringle received a May 14 letter inviting him to the joint sitting as an elected Member of Parliament. She added that officials already knew he had not taken the Oath of Allegiance on May 18. His absence from the swearing-in had also been publicly explained.

Isaac said no one withdrew the invitation before the sitting. As a result, Pringle attended as instructed.

She also said Pringle was later called to the office of Senate President Alincia Williams-Grant. There, he was told he could not remain in the chamber because he had not taken the oath.

According to Isaac, Pringle asked for the issue to be announced in Parliament instead of being handled privately. She argued that this approach would have been clearer for all members.

Isaac said the situation could have been resolved before the sitting began. She also said officials could arrange the oath before proceedings started.

She accused parliamentary authorities of turning an administrative issue into a larger conflict. She also criticized comments made during the debate, including remarks from Prime Minister Gaston Browne.

Isaac defended the opposition walkout. She said the action was a response to what she called a partisan display of authority.

She also raised concerns about the conduct of parliamentary officials. She said the events around the May 18 swearing-in and the May 26 Throne Speech affected the dignity of Parliament.

The government has maintained that all elected members must take the Oath of Allegiance before taking part in parliamentary business. Officials say this requirement follows constitutional rules.