‘Walk out on PM’

Following Tuesday’s parliamentary debacle, occasioned by a government walkout led by Prime Minister Andrew Holness, one political analyst is suggesting that Opposition Leader Mark Golding and members on his side of the political divide answer to their names today in the House of Representatives then leave the precincts of George William Gordon House.

The government walkout brought to a halt Golding’s contribution to the Budget Debate after the deputy Speaker ended the proceedings owing to the lack of a quorum.

The government legislators stormed out of Parliament after Golding raised concern about Member of Parliament for St Andrew East Rural Juliet Holness presiding as Speaker while being the spouse of the head of government.

Political analyst Dr Paul Ashley argued that it would be inappropriate for the Opposition to request that Golding be allowed to complete his Budget presentation.

“It is my view that they should go to Parliament and have their names recorded in the register when the roll call is made, and after doing it, they should all walk out,” Ashley told The Gleaner.

He said the People’s National Party (PNP) should hold its Parliament at another place other than Gordon House but not before its lawmakers attend Parliament to record their names in the register. He said this approach should be taken for subsequent sittings.

The political analyst argued that the PNP should learn from past experience as he referenced the action taken by former PNP President Michael Manley, who boycotted the snap election called by the Jamaica Labour Party on December 15, 1983, and subsequently held what he called the “People’s Forum” at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

During the forum in the 1980s, members of the PNP responded to laws debated and passed by the then JLP administration as well as other policy-related issues.

The PNP boycotted the 1983 general election, charging that an agreement between it and the JLP to change the electoral system after the 1980 General Election was broken when the then governing party called a snap election, which reportedly disenfranchised nearly 200,000 young people.

DEAF EARS

Ashley contended that Golding’s appeal to the Government to reveal the names of the so-called “illicit six” has fallen on deaf ears.

He questioned whether Golding felt that by repeating his call for the Government to name the illicit six it would finally prod the administration into disclosing the names of parliamentarians being investigated for illicit enrichment.

“We are in a competitive political situation, therefore, the Government will not reveal the illicit six because they have refused to reveal it all along.”

Further, Ashley indicated that he would be surprised if the Government suddenly reinstated the chairmanship of some parliamentary oversight committees to the Opposition.

“You think you can go to Parliament and cry every time and they pay you any mind? Politics don’t work like that,” he added.

Noting that the country has entered a prolonged electioneering process, Ashley said the Opposition should step up the pace in forcing the JLP administration to call an early general election.

“If they say the people are ready for change, the people are not going to be ready for one year and six months,” he said.

“Things have to be brought to a head,” Ashley said.

The results of the recent local government elections, which saw the PNP enjoying the popular support, have led some political watchers to indicate that the calling of general elections, which are constitutionally due next year, will go the distance into 2025.

Leader of Opposition Business in the House, Phillip Paulwell, told The Gleaner yesterday that the parliamentary opposition would meet early Thursday to discuss its next move in relation to the remainder of the Budget Debate.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness is scheduled to make his contribution to the Budget Debate today.

edmond.campbell@gleanerjm.com