Arthur Holder is first independently elected Speaker of the House of Assembly

Former Member of Parliament for St Michael Central, Arthur Holder, is the first independently elected Speaker of the House of Assembly.

He assumes the chair this parliamentary term without having faced the electorate, following a change to the legislation last December.

The Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2025 also allows a Minister to address the House of which he or she is not a member on any matter within their portfolio, while the Attorney General can address either House on any matter.

This means there are now 31 members in the House of Assembly and as such, the independent Speaker will have a casting vote on matters that are tied.

Parliament was briefly convened this evening and Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of Government Business Santia Bradshaw welcomed Holder.

“On behalf of all honourable members, again I would like to congratulate you on your return as the Speaker of the House. It has indeed been our pleasure to have you as our Speaker before and I know I can speak on behalf of all honourable members to say that we really do wish you all the best again in this position and we expect that you will keep us in order in this place, given the dignity of the House that you have done so well in your career to establish in this chamber,” she said.

Earlier, Bradshaw announced the members of the Library Committee. These include MP for Christ Church South Dr Shantal Munro-Knight, MP for St Michael South Central Marsha Caddle, MP for St James South Sandra Husbands, MP for Christ Church East Central Ryan Straughn, MP for St Michael East Trevor Prescod and Christ Church West Central MP Adrian Forde.

Attorney General Wilfred Abrahams also moved the first reading of the Constitution (Amendment) Bill.

Parliament was adjourned until Tuesday, February 24, 2026. (SAT)

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