Opposition MP John Barritt this week spoke out against MPs who voted in the debate on GPS despite having a direct financial interest in the taxi industry.

?It?s wrong. In fact, I think that?s unconscionable,? Mr. Barritt said. The Opposition House Leader and party whip said that he had canvassed his parliamentary group prior to the debate to find out whether there were any conflicts of interest.

He then spoke to House Speaker Stanley Lowe to encourage him to announce that people with an interest in the industry should declare them.

?If anybody had an interest they could have declared an interest,? Mr. Barritt said.

?Otti Simmons told the House that he had an interest and the Speaker had told him he could not participate because he had an interest.?

But it was revealed after the vote that some ruling party members had cast a vote despite the fact that they had taxi licences. Senate president Alf Oughton had not allowed Opposition Senator Leonard Santucci to vote because of his taxi licence.

Mr. Barritt said that Sen. Santucci had been instructed by his party to meet with Sen. Oughton to get a ruling.

?Now I read that people had an interest and decided to participate.?

House Speaker Stanley Lowe could not be reached for comment. Last week backbenchers Wayne Perinchief and Derrick Burgess both confirmed they had taxi licenses and said that was no reason not to allow someone to vote. And Housing Minister Ashfield DeVent said he had one but it had not been renewed.

House of Assembly rules prohibit MPs from voting on a matter in which they have a direct financial interest.