Article 19 Replacement of section 50 of Constitution.

Section 50 of the Constitution is replaced by the following–

“50

(1)

When the Assembly first meets after a general election, or after the office of Speaker has fallen vacant for any reason other than a dissolution of the Assembly, and before it proceeds to the despatch of any other business, the Assembly shall elect a person to be Speaker of the Assembly.

(2)

The Speaker shall be elected from among persons who are qualified for election to the Assembly but who are not members of the Executive Council.

(3)

When the Assembly first meets after a general election and before it proceeds to the despatch of any other business except the election of the Speaker, it shall elect a member of the Assembly other than an elected member to be Deputy Speaker of the Assembly; and if the office of Deputy Speaker falls vacant for any reason other than a dissolution of the Assembly, the Assembly shall, as soon as convenient, elect another such member to that office.

(4)

A person shall vacate the office of Speaker or Deputy Speaker–

(a)

on dissolution of the Assembly;

(b)

if he resigns his office by written notice to the Governor;

(c)

if a motion for his removal from office receives in the Assembly the affirmative votes of two-thirds of all the members thereof;

(d)

if, being a member of the Assembly, he ceases to be a member for any reason other than a dissolution of the Assembly or if, by virtue of section 39 of this Constitution, he is required to cease to perform his functions as a member;

(e)

in the case of the Speaker–

(i)

if he becomes a member of the Executive Council;

(ii)

if, not being a member of the Assembly, any circumstances arise that would cause him to be disqualified for election as a member of the Assembly by virtue of section 37(1) of this Constitution.

(5)

The Speaker or, in his absence, the Deputy Speaker or, if they are both absent, a member of the Assembly elected by the Assembly for that sitting shall preside at each sitting of the Assembly.

(6)

References in subsection (5) of this section to circumstances in which the Speaker or Deputy Speaker is absent include references to circumstances in which the office of Speaker or Deputy Speaker is vacant.”.