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No love lost - Ministers cross swords after Parliament
published: Friday | September 28, 2007
Daraine Luton, Staff Reporter
People's National Party (PNP) Member of Parliament Ian Hayles (left) and Government Senator Aundre Franklin (right) were colleagues in the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) affiliate Generation 2000 (G2K) before Mr. Hayles broke ranks. Here, they share a conversation with former PNP Youth Organisation president Senator Basil Waite before yesterday's opening of Parliament. The rapport between Mr. Hayles and Mr. Franklin deteriorated later in the day after Mr. Hayles failed to shake Prime Minister Bruce Golding's hand after taking the oath of office. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer
HOUSE SPEAKER Delroy Chuck yesterday appealed to Members of Parliament to set a good example for all Jamaicans but his words, at least for some, seemed almost immediately to have fallen on deaf ears.
Not long after the new Parliament adjourned for the first time, Ian Hayles, Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) for Western Hanover, was confronted by two government members who hurled expletives at him.
Mr. Hayles had failed to extend the hand of courtesy to Prime Minister Bruce Golding shortly after taking the oath of office inside Gordon House.
Avoided most JLP members
Hayles, a former member of the Jamaica Labour Party who now represents the Western Hanover seat on a People's National Party (PNP) ticket, had extended a hand to Leader of Government Business in the House, Derrick Smith, but avoided other JLP members, opting instead to greet his PNP comrades.
His actions clearly upset ministers Aundré Franklin and Dwight Nelson, both of whom gesticulated to show their displeasure while viewing the proceedings as senators 'invited' to the House of Representatives.
Mr. Nelson is a Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service while Mr. Franklin is Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Environment.
Just after 2:00 p.m., shortly after Parliament was adjourned, Mr. Franklin and Mr. Nelson confronted Hayles, in the lobby outside the Chamber.
The Gleaner heard expletives and threats being hurled at a retreating Mr. Hayles.
Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller, who stumbled upon the incident, which was taking place in the presence of other ministers of government and senators, demanded an end to the confrontation.
Both Mr. Nelson and Mr. Franklin later told The Gleaner that they felt Mr. Hayles was out of order and that he disrespected Mr. Golding.
"It was intentional," Mr. Franklin said.
An oversight
However, Mr. Hayles told The Gleaner that not shaking hands with Mr. Golding was an oversight.
"It was not intentional. It was an oversight on my part," said Mr. Hayles, who claimed he has been receiving threats even before the official opening of Parliament began at 11:00 a.m. yesterday.
"... the threats that the two ministers came over and threatened me [with], I am going to be making a formal report to the police," Mr. Hayles said.
He added: "The Labour Party needs to be a more mature party if they intend to govern the country.
Meanwhile, Mr. Hayles was not the only person who refused to be cordial with the opposing party. JLP MPs Andrew Gallimore, Clive Mullings and Othneil Lawrence did not shake hands with Mrs. Simpson Miller or other members of the PNP after taking the oath of office.
Tarn Peralto was on his way back to his seat but turned back to shake Mrs. Simpson Miller's hand only after being encouraged by Mr. Franklin to do so. For her part, Mrs. Simpson Miller greeted the first-time MP with a handshake and not with the usual hug and kiss with which she greeted others on the day.
daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com
published: Friday | September 28, 2007
Daraine Luton, Staff Reporter
People's National Party (PNP) Member of Parliament Ian Hayles (left) and Government Senator Aundre Franklin (right) were colleagues in the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) affiliate Generation 2000 (G2K) before Mr. Hayles broke ranks. Here, they share a conversation with former PNP Youth Organisation president Senator Basil Waite before yesterday's opening of Parliament. The rapport between Mr. Hayles and Mr. Franklin deteriorated later in the day after Mr. Hayles failed to shake Prime Minister Bruce Golding's hand after taking the oath of office. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer
HOUSE SPEAKER Delroy Chuck yesterday appealed to Members of Parliament to set a good example for all Jamaicans but his words, at least for some, seemed almost immediately to have fallen on deaf ears.
Not long after the new Parliament adjourned for the first time, Ian Hayles, Opposition Member of Parliament (MP) for Western Hanover, was confronted by two government members who hurled expletives at him.
Mr. Hayles had failed to extend the hand of courtesy to Prime Minister Bruce Golding shortly after taking the oath of office inside Gordon House.
Avoided most JLP members
Hayles, a former member of the Jamaica Labour Party who now represents the Western Hanover seat on a People's National Party (PNP) ticket, had extended a hand to Leader of Government Business in the House, Derrick Smith, but avoided other JLP members, opting instead to greet his PNP comrades.
His actions clearly upset ministers Aundré Franklin and Dwight Nelson, both of whom gesticulated to show their displeasure while viewing the proceedings as senators 'invited' to the House of Representatives.
Mr. Nelson is a Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service while Mr. Franklin is Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Environment.
Just after 2:00 p.m., shortly after Parliament was adjourned, Mr. Franklin and Mr. Nelson confronted Hayles, in the lobby outside the Chamber.
The Gleaner heard expletives and threats being hurled at a retreating Mr. Hayles.
Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller, who stumbled upon the incident, which was taking place in the presence of other ministers of government and senators, demanded an end to the confrontation.
Both Mr. Nelson and Mr. Franklin later told The Gleaner that they felt Mr. Hayles was out of order and that he disrespected Mr. Golding.
"It was intentional," Mr. Franklin said.
An oversight
However, Mr. Hayles told The Gleaner that not shaking hands with Mr. Golding was an oversight.
"It was not intentional. It was an oversight on my part," said Mr. Hayles, who claimed he has been receiving threats even before the official opening of Parliament began at 11:00 a.m. yesterday.
"... the threats that the two ministers came over and threatened me [with], I am going to be making a formal report to the police," Mr. Hayles said.
He added: "The Labour Party needs to be a more mature party if they intend to govern the country.
Meanwhile, Mr. Hayles was not the only person who refused to be cordial with the opposing party. JLP MPs Andrew Gallimore, Clive Mullings and Othneil Lawrence did not shake hands with Mrs. Simpson Miller or other members of the PNP after taking the oath of office.
Tarn Peralto was on his way back to his seat but turned back to shake Mrs. Simpson Miller's hand only after being encouraged by Mr. Franklin to do so. For her part, Mrs. Simpson Miller greeted the first-time MP with a handshake and not with the usual hug and kiss with which she greeted others on the day.
daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com
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