The question of where George Wright, the newly independent Member of Parliament (MP) for Central Westmoreland, will sit in Gordon House stirred controversy on Tuesday even as Speaker of the House of Representatives, Marissa Dalrymple-Philibert, contended that “this is not a contentious matter”.

However, Opposition Leader, Mark Golding, disagreed, charging that Wright will most likely be casting his vote on matters in the House of Representatives with the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

Golding pounced on the speaker’s statement when he rose to his feet during Tuesday’s sitting of the House following a back and forth between Dalrymple-Philibert and the Leader of Opposition Business, Anthony Hylton, on the matter.

It started when Dalrymple-Philibert asked Dr Morais Guy, the Opposition Spokesman on Health who had risen to his feet to pose questions to the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Christopher Tufton, whether he intended to speak from a seat other than his own.

“Madam Speaker, this is my new seat that I have been assigned,” Guy remarked.

Responding, Dalrymple-Philibert said the issue (of seating) was not a controversial matter. She said in Commonwealth countries, “If you are not a member of the Government then you sit on the other side”.

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