By Shantelle Legall-Gibson on Monday, 21 March, 2022 at 05:58 PM

Attorney-at-law Gregory Nicholls was sworn on Monday as the country’s newest Government senator by President Sandra Mason at the State House.

Addressing the media at the swearing-in ceremony, Nicholls, who served in the Senate from 2003 to 2008 stated he was humbled to be appointed once again.

The newly appointed senator pledges to fight for the cause of working people. He stated: “My appointment does not take him out of the vanguard fight for the working people’s right…  I plan to address that in the estimates and shape policies that will help improve working conditions of people in Barbados.”

This appointment comes on the heels of the government withdrawing its bid to amend the constitution to permit an eighteen-year-old more specifically Khaleel Kothdiwala to be placed in the Senate.

At last Friday’s sitting of the Senate, Leader of Government Business, Senator Lisa Cummins adjourned debate on the constitutional motion when it became evident that the required two-thirds majority vote would not have been achieved.

The bill before the chamber sought to not only enable an 18-year-old to serve in the chamber, but also to provide for the appointment of two senators nominated by the party securing the second-highest number of votes in the preceding election.

Nicholls mentioned the circumstances regarding Mr. Kothdiwala were regrettable but notes: “I am ready to fill the breach and I trust that I will do credit to the Prime Minister for her display of confidence in choosing me.”

Kothdiwala also took to social media giving full support to the new senator pick, stating: “Gregory Nicholls is an excellent choice, with a keen grasp of the issues and significant experience. The business of governing and legislating must and will continue.”

President Dame Sandra Mason is likely later this week to name the final two independent Senators that will complete the full complement of Senators in this current Parliament.