Golding maintains that he was blocked by Speaker from introducing bill

Opposition Leader Mark Golding has maintained that he was blocked by the Speaker of the House of Representatives from introducing a bill to reduce the number of years before people can claim ownership of Crown lands that they have occupied.

This after Speaker Juliet Holness challenged claims by the Opposition Leader that she blocked his efforts to introduce the bill.

The Speaker made it clear that the bill wasn't allowed in July due to constitutional issues highlighted in the document.

Mr Golding stood his ground, insisting that he was blocked and that the advice provided was flawed.

In a video statement after the sitting, he said he was prevented from proceeding with the matter, “on the basis of the Speaker and an attorney within the parliamentary system having concluded that aspects of the bill were unconstitutional.”

He argued that it was “quite improper for them to reach such a conclusion because that is not their role.”

Constitutional issues

Early in Tuesday's sitting of the House, Speaker Holness had declared that Mr Goldig's bill was not allowed in July due to constitutional issues highlighted in the document. 

Mr Golding, in his statement, reiterated that the Attorney General is the advisor on matters to do with the Constitution, he reiterated, and said that advice was never sought, “which I thought was most improper.”

“Nevertheless, because of the power that the Speaker wields and the fact that I do want this legislation to be tabled, I have tried to make adjustments to it, and I intend to make a final adjustment so that it can be tabled.”