making a blunder in the Upper Chambers.

Sen. Cannonier mistakenly cast the vote which brought into law the controversial funeral limousine service bill.

"It was a bit of confusion on my part,'' she later confessed. "I cannot believe it.'' Sen. Cannonier inadvertently voted the wrong way, but did not realise it until it was too late.

When the bill was to go into its second reading, United Bermuda Party senators voiced their opposition.

Senate President Alf Oughton then ordered a roll call vote.

The three Opposition senators were named first and each voted "no''. The five Government senators were next on the list and each voted "yes''. Mrs.

Cannonier followed on the roster and without hesitation voted "yes''.

Independent senators Walwyn Hughes and Sen. Oughton ended the roll, each voting "no''.

The bill -- The Motor Car Amendment (No. 2) Act 1999 then went into its third reading with no objections.

When Mr. Oughton announced that the bill had passed, Sen. Cannonier appeared surprised and said "no.'' Seeming confused and holding her head in disbelief, Sen. Cannonier sought to explain that the vote had to be redone and she claimed that she had responded when the president had asked for objections to the bill's passage. Speaking on her behalf, Opposition Sen. Mark Pettingill asked for clarification on the matter as he claimed "it is clear that a member misunderstood and has immediately explained that she made a mistake''.

Sen. Pettingill, a lawyer, pointed out the importance of disregarding Sen.

Cannonier's blunder in the wider interest of the country.

But Mr. Oughton was not moved by Sen. Pettingill's speech. He said the proceedings "went too far'' and reminded senators that the matter was made very clear before they began recording the votes.

"I cannot see how I can rescind this,'' he said. "It's like voting for the wrong party. You cannot ask if you can have your ballot back to make a change and then put it back in the box.'' Government senators bowed and thanked the independent senator for her vote.

Senator's voting blunder Sen. Cannonier later explained her case on the floor of the Senate.

"I would like the record to show that I simply made a mistake at the time of the vote,'' she said. "I would like it to be noted that I endeavoured to clarify that. I would also like it to be noted that rule 31 (12) of the rules of the house has provision for a member that has voted to correct that as something that is practicable.

"Having said that I will certainly be endeavouring to look at this from other angles as to whether or not there is any way at all possible to deal with this situation.'' Sen. Cannonier may seek to prove that she had spoken up before the bill actually passed. But even if this is the case, Mr. Oughton pointed out that according to the Senate's rule book, three senators have to object for a vote to be taken.

Jeannette Cannonier