History was created during the Ceremonial Opening of the First Session of the Seventh Parliament at York House last Friday as it related to the appointment of a Speaker to the House of Representatives.

Parliamentary sources told GRENADA TODAY that it was the first time that someone was selected for the post and it had to go to the vote due to the failure of the official Opposition to give support to the motion in the Lower House.

After much controversy involving government and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) of Barrister-at-law Tillman Thomas over the appointment of a Speaker, the government of Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell finally got its wishes.

Days before Parliament was convened, the Grenadian leader had announced that the ruling New National Party (NNP) choice for the post was former Labour Minister and Leader of Government Business in the Upper House, Senator Lawrence Joseph.

The NDC disagreed on the choice due to Joseph's close political association with the government and called for the re-appointment of Dean of Professional Studies at St. George's University, George Mc. Guire (SGUSOM) to the post.

However, Prime Minister Mitchell retorted by saying that Mc. Guire will not be able to serve as House Speaker since he had indicated to him before Parliament was dissolved last year that he would only serve until the end of the life of the house.

During Friday's sitting, the Opposition Leader did not second the Motion to confirm Joseph's appointment as is the tradition but chose to put forward a nominee in the person of Cecilia Quashie, who is associated with The National Party (TNP).
The motion was seconded by NDC's Shadow Finance Minister Nazim Burke, the elected Member of Parliament for St. George North-east.

Quashie who has been described by the opposition as a model citizen, serves on a number of civil organisations in the country.

Clerk of Parliament Kenneth Hobson ws forced to put the issue to a vote by secret ballots.

At the conclusion of the voting process, Joseph emerged the winner with 8 votes, apparently from the government side and Quashie with the 7 members of the Opposition.

The post of Deputy Speaker went unopposed to the NDC's Parliamentary Representative for St. David's, Michael Lett.
Barrister at-Law Leslie-Ann Seon was elected unopposed for the position of President while Private Sector Representative in the Upper House Aaron Moses was appointed Deputy President.