THE OPPOSITION People's National Party (PNP) walked out of Parliament last night after failing to secure an amendment to a resolution on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).

The PNP wanted Parliament to include, as part of the resolution, a provision that the proposed Most Favoured Nation (MFN) clause exclude the definition of "major trading economy" from the EPA to be signed by Cariforum countries and the European Union.

The governing JLP prevailed in voting against the amendment with 26 votes. The 16 PNP members of Parliament who were present voted for the amendment and, when it failed, they walked out of the Chamber.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding commented inside the Chamber that he had seen several walk outs but it was the first time an Opposition had walked out because it lost a vote.