The President of the Senate plans to convene a meeting this week in the Upper House after an independent senator aired concerns about feeling “frustrated” in the execution of her parliamentary role.

Joan Dillas-Wright said she intends to meet first with Tawana Tannock, a Governor-appointed senator, to hear from her.

It follows tense moments in the Upper House last Wednesday during the motion to adjourn when Ms Tannock said she believed that independent senators were being “obstructed” in carrying out their duties.

Ms Tannock said she felt that government senators were blocking her from speaking during the motion.

She also told the Upper House that interruptions while she spoke felt “tantamount to harassment”.

Ms Dillas-Wright told The Royal Gazette: “The intention is to first of all meet with Ms Tannock. It is my concern to resolve any issues around an independent senator having concerns.”

She said she plans to meet with John Wight, the Vice-President of the Senate, then the government senators and those from the Opposition.

In the Senate, Ms Tannock raised concerns after the passage of the Pension (Increase) Amendment Act 2026, which will raise the rate of public servants’ pensions by 10 per cent from April 1 to March 31, 2027.

Crystal Caesar, who was then the Minister of Education and a government senator, moved the Bill and spoke of its benefits.

Later in the sitting, during the motion to adjourn, Ms Tannock said the passage of the Bermuda Constitution Order 1968 established the role of independent senators.

She said: “The role of an independent senator is to act as an independent observer, to be objective, to provide scrutiny and also to hold the Government and the Opposition to account.

“I’m sorry I am so frustrated … and I am frustrated because when we tried to discuss this Bill earlier today … it was a point made that it was the independent senators that were objecting.”

Ms Caesar interjected, reminding Ms Dillas-Wright of the standing orders prohibiting senators to speak on legislation after its passage.

During a back-and-forth, Ms Caesar accused Ms Tannock of “inadvertently” impugning improper motive, a claim to which the independent senator vehemently objected before Lindsay Simmons, a government senator, raised an objection.

Ms Tannock later told the Gazette that her frustration centred on a lack of answers to questions asked on behalf of the people.

“It’s the unwillingness to answer the questions,” she added.

Mr Wight told the Senate that he supported Ms Tannock’s concerns.

“I think the role of the independent senator for the community is a very important one and I share my colleague’s frustration at the moment with our inability to debate,” he said.

Ms Dillas-Wright, who is also an independent senator, suggested that the Upper House hold a meeting “if there is angst or whatever about any role”.