stopped at the final hurdle when Opposition senators forced it to be carried forward to a sitting next week.

After debating the bill throughout the day Government Senate Leader Lynda Milligan-Whyte moved to have it read a third time.

The motion carried on a vote of seven to three but Opposition Senate Leader Milton Scott invoked a Senate rule (35) that states if three or more Senators object to the third reading of a bill it should stand over to the following session.

Sen. Lawrence Scott (UBP) moved to suspend the motion so the Senate could pass the bill.

However Sen. Milton Scott said the provision was clear and said it would be dangerous and unprecedented to bypass it.

Senate President Albert Jackson upheld the move and said the third reading would be carried over until next Wednesday.

Afterward, Sen. Milligan-Whyte said she had no idea why Sen. Milton Scott delayed the Act except that he might wish to offer further objections to it.

She said the Education Act was a very important topic which had been debated clause by clause. Government justified its policies and programmes every step of the way, she said.

Sen. Milton Scott said Senate procedure allowed the bill to be carried over to the following day and he decided to enact it to highlight the PLP's objection to certain clauses in the bill.

He said two of the PLP senators' concerns, which they had attempted to have amended, had received a tied vote of five apiece which proved the Independent senators support.

This showed the Opposition was on target with its concerns, he said.

The PLP wanted to know if Government intended to appoint an attendance officer. And it questioned Government's definition of "suitable education''.

But he added he did not see this as Independent senators siding with the Opposition.

He stressed the Independent senators were appointed to lend an independent voice to debate.