MINISTER of Defence Wayne Sturge has called for Independent Senator Anthony Vieira to be removed from the Upper House.

Sturge yesterday referred to Viei­ra’s presence in the Senate as “untenable” and questioned why he was brought back as an Indepen­dent Senator after serving a previous period.

The minister made the remarks on his Toco/Sangre Grande Facebook page, joining the United National Congress’ (UNC) criticism of Vieira’s comments that late former Independent senator Deoroop Teemal, who suddenly passed away last Sunday, had been emotionally stressed as a result of the party attacking the Independent bench.