26/02/2025
Hon.Bradly Felix Denies Claims of Walking Out Against Chastanet, Calls Out Speaker for Bias
Parliamentary Representative for Choiseul/Saltibus Hon.Bradly Felix has firmly rejected claims by the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) and its supporters that he walked out of Parliament in protest against Opposition Leader Allen Chastanet. Felix clarified that his departure was, in fact, a demonstration against what he described as unfair treatment of Hon. Chastanet by House Speaker Claudius Francis.
Felix accused the Speaker of repeatedly denying Chastanet the opportunity to meaningfully contribute to the debate while allowing government MPs to speak freely, often straying beyond the scope of the scheduled bills, such as the Real Estate and Brokers Bill. He described this as part of a broader pattern of bias in the House of Assembly.
“The claim that I walked out because of Allen Chastanet is completely false,” Felix stated.
He pointed to a particularly tense moment when Chastanet attempted to address the controversial Orange Grove Daher Mall purchase. According to Felix, the Speaker repeatedly interrupted the Opposition Leader, preventing him from fully expressing his views, even as other MPs were allowed to comment on the issue.
“I was especially upset when the Speaker refused to let Mr. Chastanet respond to comments made by other MPs,” Felix said. “It was clear that there was no equal opportunity for debate, and that’s why I chose to walk out.”
Felix’s remarks highlight growing tensions in the House of Assembly, with the Opposition increasingly voicing concerns over what they see as a lack of fairness in parliamentary proceedings.
