FURTHER DISCUSSION on issues stemming from Portia Simpson Miller's decision to abstain from voting during a recent Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) resolution in the House of Representatives criticising the funding of the fire services was quashed at yesterday's meeting of the PNP's National Executive Council (NEC). Simpson Miller is a vice president of the ruling People's National Party and Minister of Local Government, Community Development and Sport.
In a news release, Colin Campbell, deputy general secretary of the PNP, said the NEC "gave full support to the party leader and Prime Minister personally handling the recent issue of the Ministry of Local Government's Fire Services budget in the interest of party unity and in keeping with the long-standing principle that the Prime Minister deals with all issues relating to the Cabinet."
UNDERFUNDING
In early April, Mrs. Portia Simpson Miller earned the ire of members of her party when she abstained from a vote on a JLP resolution decrying the underfunding of the fire services. The resolution was defeated by Government MPs at a recent meeting of Parliament's Standing Finance Committee.
Also, she warned that there could be possible job cuts in light of the meagre budgetary allocation. The Government later dismissed this claim, stating that there would be no job cuts in the fire services. Mrs. Simpson Miller was accused of violating the principle of collective responsibility by her abstention when the vote on the JLP's resolution was held.
