THE Parliament which was convened when the new Government took office in 2012 had its final sitting yesterday on a sombre note as the leaders said farewell to departing MPs, including Speaker of the House Michael Peart, who has retired from representational politics after 22 years.

“All good things must come to an end, and this Parliament has performed creditably, not the least because of your guidance,” Minister of Finance and Planning Dr Peter Phillips said.

He confessed that there had been some concerns about Peart’s handling of the chair, as it was felt that he “accommodated too much foolishness from some sections of the chamber”, but it was generally felt that he had done so “in order to accord the highest traditions of the parliamentary space”.

Added Phillips: “It has been an active Parliament. Much legislation has been passed, valuable legislation to the service of the people of Jamaica. Questions have been answered, and it has been good to be in this Parliament.”

Leader of the House Phillip Paulwell said that Peart had served the House with ”distinction, décor and appropriateness and had been “even-handed” in discharging his duties as speaker.

“It is rare in our advocating for us to recognise term limits, but you have imposed on yourself your own term limit and, again, we think that is quite profound,” Paulwell added.

Leader of Opposition Business Derrick Smith said he was “extremely happy” that it was last sitting of the current Parliament.

“We are happy because the electorate has finally gotten an opportunity to see the end of the People’s National Party Administration,” Smith said.

However, Smith said that the Opposition had noted a downward trend in political violence, and hoped that the trend would continue.

He also stated that it was obvious that Peart’s experience in Parliament had allowed him to develop into a “good speaker”, and that the Opposition had found satisfaction with him in the chair.

However, Smith closed by stating he hoped that the new Administration would accelerate the process of providing a new building to house the Parliament.

Peart thanked members for their kind words. He said that it was never his ambition to become the speaker, but that he didn’t refuse the opportunity when it was offered.

“But I understood the gravity of the appointment, and I thank the prime minister for laying her hands on me,” he said.

“This sometimes raucous Parliament was a source of energy for me. I enjoyed most of my time in the Parliament. There was the odd one or two that made life difficult for me, but I want to thank the members, sincerely, for the trust that we developed in each other,” he stated.

Peart admitted that sometimes he allowed too much leeway, but insisted that he did not want to have a “boring” Parliament.

He also recalled that, on a visit to Gordon House a group of students from St Thomas who came to his office, told him that the sitting was “very boring”.

“We did not enjoy it at all. It was nothing like what we saw on television,” they told him.

“They expected to see fireworks, but 95 per cent of the time we are doing good work,” Peart said.

He said he would be back as a visitor and an adviser in the future.

Only 15 of the 63 MPs were in the chamber for the close to the current Parliament which will be dissolved on Friday to make way for the new Parliament which will be sworn in after the February 25 General Election.

On the Government’s side were: Paulwell; Dr Phillips; Attorney General Patrick Atkinson (Trelawny Northern) who will not return, having been replaced as the candidate; Dr Fenton Ferguson (St Thomas Eastern); Derrick Kellier (St James Southern); Anthony Hylton (St Andrew Western); Dr Morais Guy (St Mary Central); Natalie Neita Headley (St Catherine North Central); Richard Parchment (St Elizabeth South Eastern); Fitz Jackson (St Catherine Southern); Luther Buchanan (Westmoreland Eastern). And Opposition MPs: Smith, Karl Samuda (St Andrew North Central); and J C Hutchinson (St Elizabeth North Western).