Neil Rowe removed as Deputy Speaker, Cynthia Forde to replace him

Barbados: Neil Rowe, the Member of Parliament for St Michael North West will be replaced by the Member of Parliament for St Thomas, Cynthia Forde. It is to be noted that Neil Rowe has been officially removed as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly after facing the accusation of having committed sexual assault against a woman.

At the Parliamentary session of 23^rd January, Santia Bradshaw, the Leader of Government Business and Deputy Prime Minister, moved the motion to revoke Neil Rowe’s appointment with immediate effect.

Also, the House approved the motion and gave the green light for selecting Cynthia Forde, MP of St Thomas as the Deputy Speaker.

Notably, the case began in October 2022 at the Oistins Magistrate Court before Magistrate Deidre McKenna. He was represented by Attorney-at-law Roger Forde KC and Attorney Safiya Moore. For the next hearing, Neil Rowe will go to the High Court on Thursday, 25^th January 2024.

Rowe last attended court in September 2023. His case is now being handled by Attorneys-at-law Michael Lashley KC and Ralph Thorne SC.

Moreover, when the accusation of Rowe raping the woman came out in the media, Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley announced that the parliamentary team had decided to nominate Cynthia Forde as the new Deputy Speaker. However, Rowe continued to retain his office as the Deputy Speaker.

During the session, PM Mottley stated that Neil Rowe has now been indicted, and there is a difference between a charge and an indictment. She also added that a person is innocent until proven guilty.

It was also mentioned by PM Mottley that “Deputy Presiding Officer of Parliament of Barbados is facing a personal matter and we should respect that should never allow the Parliament to be involved in the private matters of a member.”

PM Mottley has assured the citizens that Rowe will continue to serve as the Member of Parliament for his constituency.

“Let Mr Rowe have all of the opportunity to assert his independence, his innocence, and at the same time, recognise that those who assert and allege against him must prove the case,” stated PM Mia Mottley.