Robert Hart, Parliamentary Reporter
THE SENATE yesterday passed three Bills Prime which Minister P.J. Patterson said must become law before he calls the by-election that could see Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) leader Bruce Golding returning to the House of Representatives.
However, the electronic fingerprint voter identification bills, which will go back to the House with one amendment each, were not passed before government members had a little fun with the Opposition.
DRAGGED OUT DEBATE
Clearly taking revenge for the Opposition's stalling of deliberations on new legislation establishing the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Government members dragged out the debate on the non-controversial billls for more than three hours.
"Arthur (Opposition Senator Arthur Williams), why you sweating?" asked a gleeful Senator A.J. Nicholson, Minister of Justice, as the almost unending debate crawled to a close.
Opposition members were last week angered by the decision of Government senators to hold off on debating the three bills until recommendations for additional changes could be incorporated from the Electoral Advisory Committee (EAC).
The amendments call for an oath of identity to be taken if the electronic equipment fails to work.
On Wednesday, the Opposition turned the tables on Senator Nicholson and the Government by forcing his joint select committee examining the CCJ Bill to push back the conclusion of its discussions, for at least two weeks, to give interest groups time to have their views on the legislation heard.
The speedy passing of electronic fingerprint identification into law is of particular importance to the Opposition because its new leader, Senator Golding, is also the new caretaker for the West Kingston constituency.
Former JLP leader Edward Seaga resigned as the member of parliament for West Kingston on January 19, leaving a seat vacant in the House for Senator Golding who became the new party leader on February 20.
BLASTED GOVERNMENT
Senator Golding needs to return to the House for the first time since 1997 in order to fully stabilise the JLP's parliamentary hierarchy by taking over from Dr. Ken Baugh, the current Leader of the Opposition.
The post, which can only be held by a member of the Lower House, would symbolise the conclusion of a year-long struggle within the embattled JLP.
Yesterday Senator Anthony Johnson, Leader of Opposition Business, blasted the government for failing to call the by-election and leaving West Kingston constituents without parliamentary representation for almost two months.
"There is no reason for any delay," Senator Johnson charged. "We look and listen and we expect that there will be adequate notice of this (by-election). It is not good for people to go without representation for so long."
