Progressive Labour Party MPs who were absent from Parliament when a vote was called during a critical education debate on Friday night have been summoned by David Burt to a meeting tonight with the party’s executive.

The call comes after debate on the long-awaited Education Authority Bill 2026 was pushed back for two weeks as a result of a motion to rise and report progress, moved by the Opposition, that was approved by a vote of 11 to nine. Those who were present voted along party lines.

Thirteen government MPs eligible to vote, did not vote, including Mr Burt who said he was at a “private engagement”.

Michael Weeks, a backbencher, was the only MP formally listed as absent on the House of Assembly order paper and has since confirmed he was overseas.

In a letter to party members, seen by The Royal Gazette, Burt, PLP leader and Premier, said the Central Committee is expected to review “what happened, including whether absences were authorised and agreed arrangements were followed”.

Ministers and backbenchers are answerable to the party’s governing body, the MPs were told.

Mr Burt told party MPs that while debate on the education authority legislation will resume on November 20, he will cancel any ministerial travel approved for that time so all ministers can be present for the meeting scheduled for today. He warned that the party should be able to count on its MPs to be in their seats doing the work they were elected to do.

“Our election platforms are our contract with the voters and we must deliver on our commitments,” Mr Burt told MPs.

“We promised to deliver this reform and today, as a party, we fell short.”

While accepting responsibility, Mr Burt added: “As a PLP caucus, we collectively own this failure. We must do better”.

Mr Burt said he apologised to Diallo Rabain, the Minister of Education, and commended him “on his excellent work” on the Bill.

He said Mr Rabain returned to his role as education minister to deliver on the promise made in the PLP’s 2020 and 2025 General Election platforms.

This was following the resignation from the post of Crystal Caesar, who had attempted to put a freeze on education reform.

“His work and the contributions of those who helped prepare and debate this legislation deserved our support and presence,” Mr Burt said.

On Friday night, Opposition leader Ben Smith called on Mr Rabain to resign over his handling of the Bill and lack of consultation.

The vote-to-delay debate came amid questions from the Opposition about the independence of the education authority, among other issues.

Lovitta Foggo, was Acting Speaker, in absence of Dennis Lister — meaning she was unable to vote given her position in the House — while Scott Simmons was also unable to vote as he was presiding as chair in committee.

All other government MPs were listed as absent.

A call was also made for the inclusion of critical amendments to the Bill, which establishes the authority.

Following the parliamentary session on Friday night, Mr Burt requested that Mr Smith submit his party’s proposed legislative amendments in time for the Cabinet Committee on Education Reform to consider them when it meets on Tuesday.

On the eve of the debate, Mr Smith had requested a delay and sent a list of proposals without drafted amendments to the legislation.

The OBA outlined some changes it hoped to see in an opinion piece that was published in the Gazette recently.

Victoria Cunningham, the Opposition Senate Leader, suggested that the first chairman and chief executive of the Education Authority board be appointed “through the Bill’s own merit-based process” rather than by the minister, as set out in the proposed law.

She wrote then: “In July, the minister set out how the legislation should be judged: whether appointments are genuinely merit-based, whether accountability is enshrined in law, and whether the framework will endure across administrations. Those are the right tests.

“The Bill as tabled does not yet pass them.”

The meeting today will also cover discussions over the Annual Delegates Conference when the next party leader will be chosen.

A government spokeswoman said last night: “The Government has nothing to add. Please refer to the Premier's statement which was issued on the matter on Friday.“