Parchment to move in April 7
OCHO RIOS, St Ann — Member of parliament for North West St Ann, Verna Parchment, seems set to finally move into the constituency office in Brown’s Town on April 7, six months after her general election victory over former government minister, Arnold Bertram.
“We will have orange and green ribbons at the opening,” the Jamaica Labour Party representative told the Observer Thursday. “I don’t want to have just green ribbons, as I would feel as if I’m trampling on the PNP (People’s National Party) supporters; and I am not just a JLP member of parliament, I’m MP for the entire constituency,” she added.
Since the October elections, Parchment has been prevented from occupying the office on at least two occasions by PNP protestors, who laid claim to the building, saying they built it for the PNP during Bertram’s tenure. But Bertram reportedly built the office with government funds, and as such it is to be used by the sitting MP, irrespective of party affiliation.
A PNP delegation, which drove into Kingston Tuesday to voice their concern over the issue, was addressed by members of the party’s hierarchy who explained the party’s stance on the issue.
That seemed to have quelled the dispute.
“The supporters, who did voluntary work, did not understand the situation as Mr Bertram did not explain the situation to them,” Parchment said.
She added that PNP general secretary, Maxine Henry-Wilson, assured her Tuesday, that based on the outcome of the discussions with the St Ann delegation, the way is now cleared for her to occupy the office.
Bertram could not be reached for comment.
But although the locks were changed last Monday, Parchment is yet to pick up the keys or even see the conditions inside the building.
“I’m not sure of the condition of the office, as I’ve never been inside it,” she confirmed to the Observer.
She said, however, that she was confident that she would have no problem moving in on April 7.