A nasty episode of name-calling, jeers and shouts of abuse characterised most of the approximately hour-long interlude during which Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller answered questions about her frequent overseas trips in the House of Representatives yesterday.
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| (L-R) SIMSON MILLER... seven-day trip to Ethiopia cost $6.5 million. HOLNESS... said he would not be deterred by noise and distraction |
House Speaker Michael Peart fought to keep order during most of the period as Opposition Leader Andrew Holness posed some follow-up questions emanating from the 61-page document tabled by Simpson Miller with her answers to his original questions. There were only a few copies of the document available. The Opposition had to make do with two copies, and the Government members with probably two more. No copies were available for the press.
The prime minister's answers said that full cost of overseas visits by members of her Government, including junior ministers, was $117.8 million. The cost of trips paid for by the Office of the Prime Minister was $25 million for staff, and $15 million for the prime minister alone on her 25 trips. Holness was greeted with laughter and derision when he rose to ask additional questions. more
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