Member of Parliament for St. Barnabas, the Hon. Shanendon Cartwright was suspended from the House of Assembly for the second time on Wednesday.

Cartwright was suspended after being asked to apologize to the Member of Parliament for South and Central Andros, the Hon. Leon Lundy for comments made towards him during this year’s budget debate.

House of Assembly Chief Clerk, David Forbes explained on Thursday the procedure leading to the suspension. He said, “the suspension that happened to Mr. Cartwright yesterday should be the end of the matter. You have to understand that the privilege committee, one of the standing committees of the House Of Assembly, did an investigation and they came up with a finding. Their finding was reported to the house and a part of their finding was to request an apology from Mr. Cartwright.”

According to a report tabled by Chairperson of the Committee of Privilege, the Hon. Glenys Hanna Martin, as Lundy was contributing to the 2025-2026 budget debate Cartwright posed questions to him concerning an increase in the rates of the Water and Sewerage Corporation. A dispute ensued which continued on the following day when Cartwright accused Lundy of misleading the House using objectionable language. Lundy requested Cartwright’s comments be withdrawn. The matter was referred to the Committee of Privilege by Deputy Speaker, the Hon. Sylvanus Petty who was acting as Speaker at the time.

Cartwright was last suspended along with five of his parliamentary colleagues in December 2024 for an incident that involved the mace being thrown out of the window of the House. This time his suspension will be served at the first sitting of the House after its current summer break. Chief Clerk Forbes indicated that any further suspensions by Cartwright may lead to him not representing his constituents properly.