Grange: Gov’t MPs Demanded Golding Withdraw Attack on Speaker to End Walk-Out

Deputy Leader of Government Business, Olivia Grange, says the refusal by the opposition leader to withdraw his comments about House Speaker Juliet Holness, rendered her efforts futile as she tried to get government MPs to return to the chamber for the remainder of Mr. Golding’s budget presentation.

Mahiri Stewart reports.

During the walk-out, the Deputy Leader of Government Business, Olivia Grange, remained in the chamber. She says she made efforts to get Mr. Golding to withdraw his comment so the sitting could resume.

The opposition leader held an impromptu press conference at his office on West Kings House Road in St. Andrew.

At that press conference, he was flanked by PNP chairman and MP for South West St. Andrew, Dr. Angela Brown Burke, Spokesperson on Gender, Denise Daley and President of the PNP’s Women’s Movement, Patricia Duncan Sutherland.

Ms. Grange, who is also the gender minister and chairperson of the JLP’s Women’s Caucus, says she’s surprised the women of the PNP stood in solidarity with Mr. Golding.

Minister Grange says she will not sit in Parliament and encourage behaviour that degrades women.