THE OPPOSITION is charging that the People's National Party (PNP) government has put party politics above national business by not scheduling any sitting of the House of Representatives since January 7.
"It is scandalous the way in which the Government has abandoned the Parliament, and by extension the people's business," said Derrick Smith, Leader of Opposition Business, yesterday. According to Mr. Smith, since Parliament reconvened on January 7 from the Christmas break, no sitting has been held despite the fact that they are to be held each Tuesday.
House Leader Dr. Peter Phillips is one of four candidates contesting to succeed P.J. Patterson as PNP president and, by extension, Prime Minister. Also locked in the race are two senior Government ministers Portia Simpson Miller, the Local Government Minister, and Dr. Omar Davies, the Finance Minister. Each of these three campaign teams consists of Cabinet ministers. For example, Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke heads Simpson Miller's campaign team, while Maxine Henry-Wilson, the Education Minister, and Dr. Paul Robertson, Development Minister, jointly leads Dr. Phillips' campaign team. Water and Housing Minister Donald Buchanan is a backer of Omar Davies.
NEVER OFFICIALLY INFORMED
Smith complained last night that he was never officially told of a suspension of Parliament, but noted that on several occasions the aide to the House Leader informed that individual sittings would not be held.
"The entire focus now is on what Dr. Peter Phillips, leader of Government Business (in the House of Representatives) has described as PNP business," said the Jamaica Labour Party spokesman.
