Verna Parchment (left), is welcomed by People's National Party (PNP) Members of Parliament, John Junor (second left), Donald Buchanan and Phillip Paulwell, as she crosses to the PNP's aisle in the Chamber of Gordon House yesterday. Mrs. Parchment has officially joined the PNP after resigning from the Jamaica Labour Party last month. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
MEMBER OF Parliament for North West St. Ann, Verna Parchment, yesterday officially crossed over to the Government's side of the House of Representatives.
Mrs. Parchment had tendered her resignation from the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) on April 5, claiming she was being undermined in her constituency by the leadership of the party.
Dr. Peter Phillips, Leader of Government Business, announced the move to the Government side. Mrs. Parchment, who was ironically dressed in a green suit, then rose and walked to the Government benches.
Both sides of the House applauded her and Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller hugged her.
Mrs. Parchment subsequently told The Gleaner she was a much happier person.
GOOD TIMES AND BAD TIMES
"I want to say thank you to the Jamaica Labour Party. There were good times and there were bad times, but I will leave with the good times and the bad times and certainly grow gracefully in the political arena under the banner of the People's National Party," she said.
Mrs. Parchment, however, told The Gleaner that she would not represent the PNP in the next general elections.
Reacting to Mrs. Parchment's decision, JLP General Secretary Karl Samuda said it was no surprise to the party.
"Her actions spoke louder than words. So, today is just a manifestation of what she had planned apparently long ago," he said.
Mr. Samuda, who himself joined the PNP for a brief period in the early 1990s before rejoining the JLP, said that he was not aware if Abe Dabdoub, who also recently resigned from the JLP, would also be crossing the floor.
The PNP now has 34 seats to the JLP's 24 with one independent and one seat vacant.
