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OPPOSITION leader Portia Simpson Miller, says the People's National Party is in not in support of criminals.
Simpson Miller made the announcement during a press conference at the the party's Hope Road headquarters in kingston to explain its reasons for abstaining to vote for or against an extension of the State of Emergency.
"Let me make it very clear, the Parliamentary Opposition is not in support of criminals. The Opposition supports an effective long term crime fighting strategy. We accept that States of Emergency may be necessary for specific periods and purposes in that an overall Crime Fighting Plan, in accordance with the Constitution of Jamaica," Simpson Miller said.
The Government's bid to have the State of Emergency extended for another 30 days was scuttled after opposition members of parliament declined to cast votes claiming the government was taking them for granted and was not willing to listen to their concerns.
The bid lost because the full compliment of government ministers were not present for yesterday's sitting effectively diminishing the ruling party's slim majority.
But Simpson Miller questioned Prime Minister Bruce Golding's sincerity in extending the State of Emergency which has been in effect since May 24.
"The Government has a majority of 32 seats in the House. If the Prime Minister genuinely wanted to pass his motion shouldn’t he have ensured there were the required numbers? Considering that his Ministers and members can only travel at his pleasure, the nation is entitled to ask why did he approve the travel of so many members when he was aware he would require them during their absence from Jamaica?" she said.
Simpson Miller made the announcement during a press conference at the the party's Hope Road headquarters in kingston to explain its reasons for abstaining to vote for or against an extension of the State of Emergency.
"Let me make it very clear, the Parliamentary Opposition is not in support of criminals. The Opposition supports an effective long term crime fighting strategy. We accept that States of Emergency may be necessary for specific periods and purposes in that an overall Crime Fighting Plan, in accordance with the Constitution of Jamaica," Simpson Miller said.
The Government's bid to have the State of Emergency extended for another 30 days was scuttled after opposition members of parliament declined to cast votes claiming the government was taking them for granted and was not willing to listen to their concerns.
The bid lost because the full compliment of government ministers were not present for yesterday's sitting effectively diminishing the ruling party's slim majority.
But Simpson Miller questioned Prime Minister Bruce Golding's sincerity in extending the State of Emergency which has been in effect since May 24.
"The Government has a majority of 32 seats in the House. If the Prime Minister genuinely wanted to pass his motion shouldn’t he have ensured there were the required numbers? Considering that his Ministers and members can only travel at his pleasure, the nation is entitled to ask why did he approve the travel of so many members when he was aware he would require them during their absence from Jamaica?" she said.
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