The Senate is scheduled to meet on Tuesday - and - just like when they met a month ago - this meeting will be held virtually via teleconference platform.
We wondered why - since the fully refurbished National Assembly building was inaugurated earlier this month - and the senate has not yet held a meeting in the new chamber.
Well, as we understand it - the President Carolyn Trench Sandiford and the Leader of Government business, Eamon Courtenay agreed to have a short session to deal with some of the backlog of about 10 bills - and leave the heavier bills for a full meeting in a few weeks.
But, the independent Senators don't seem too happy with the arrangement. And, reports tell us that the four of them may choose to make their virtual appearance from the Senate Chamber - even though the meeting is virtual. This would be viewed as almost an act of protest - and it would effectively make it a hybrid meeting - for which there is no provision in the standing orders.
Reports tell us that the senators feel that another virtual meeting may be an abuse of the provision for the Senate to meet electronically which - by the rules - is only in the interest of public health, public safety, national security or public emergency. But currently, none of those apply.
So, things may be coming to a head - and reports suggest it could even lead to a cancellation of the meeting. We'll keep you posted.
