( L - R ) Golding, Simpson-Miller

The Gavel appears on an unusual day today and will return to its regular slot in the Monday Gleaner next week.

Portia Simpson Miller retreated to the Opposition's quarters in Gordon House, last Tuesday, to host a hastily called press conference after Prime Minister Bruce Golding launched a scathing attack on his parliamentary opponents, who had stopped short of accusing him of corruption, in the Hydel/Ferry land controversy.

The practice of the parliamentary Opposition, past and present, to call impromptu press conferences in its office at Gordon House while the sitting is in progress, is not a new phenomenon. However we believe that last Tuesday's move was ill advised for two clear reasons.

First, debate on a far more substantial issue - the retention of the death penalty - was underway in the Chamber and, secondly, but also of moment, Simpson Miller, the opposition leader, could have posed as many questions as possible to the prime minister on the floor of Parliament. This would have given members of the public an opportunity to make a judgement on the merit of Golding's responses.

Skilful balancing

Many journalists in Parliament on Tuesday had no choice but to carry out a skilful balancing act, as they sought to cover sections of the Opposition's press conference and the fiery debate on capital punishment.

Simpson Miller's silence was deafening after Golding's scorching response to claims of nepotism and undue personal interest in the acquisition, by the Urban Development Corpora-tion, of the six-and-a-half acre property at Ferry where the Hydel Group of Schools is located.

The allegation was that the property was purchased to bail out the school, which would otherwise have had to vacate the premises.

The institution is owned by Government Senator Hyacinth Bennett, who served with Golding in the 1990s when he was president of the National Democratic Movement.

Cowardly move

While we recognise the attempt at a strategic manoeuvre by the Opposition to capture media attention and ventilate its concerns, this move could be construed by some as cowardly and an inability on the part of Simpson Miller to match strides with Golding on a stage where no prisoners would have been taken.

Opposition spokesman on finance, Dr Omar Davies, posed three questions, while his colleagues, Roger Clarke and Peter Bunting, asked one question each on the issue.

The Hydel/Ferry land deal inflamed passions on both sides of the political divide and parliamentarians were on the offensive during Tuesday's sitting.

Determined to put the issue to rest, Golding, who appeared to be in an indignant mood, pelted his counterparts with a stream of sarcasm as he concluded his presentation.

In defending himself against charges of nepotism, we believe Golding may have crossed the line in his closing remarks. The prime minister said: "It is ironic, if not ludicrous, for the Opposition, this one, to use this as a basis for accusing this government of corruption.

"It will be a long time, a long time, before anyone on that side will regain the moral authority to accuse anybody of corruption."

It is no secret that the former PNP administration had more than an acquaintance with scandals.

However, it is unfair to a number of newcomers on the Opposition side, for the prime minister to broad-brush them with their former government colleagues when he asserted that they had no moral authority to accuse anybody of corruption.

Blemished record

Surely, if they were of the view that a corrupt act had been committed, the blemished record of their predecessors and colleagues should not force them into silence.

On another matter, we commend and congratulate veteran parliamentarian and President of the Senate, Oswald Harding, for the professional manner in which he has presided over the sittings of the Upper House since his appointment last year.

But we wish to remind some senators, particularly those who have been given the opportunity to serve in this distinguished House for the first time, that crassness and crudity have never found an abiding place among the finest traditions of the Senate.