Senator Norman Horne has relented to mounting pressure from the Opposition for him to relinquish his position in the Upper House of Parliament.
Mr. Horne, the former Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Senator who resigned from the party and deemed himself an Independent two years ago, told The Gleaner/ Power 106 News Centre yesterday that he intends to resign shortly but declined to state a date for his departure.
He said he is currently in discussion with the relevant persons on the matter and will be prepared to speak further on the issue next week.
The top brass of the JLP
has insisted that under the Constitution the Independent Senator, who was recently approved for membership in the People's National Party (PNP), is not allowed to join the Government side in the Upper House.
Constitutional stipulation
Opposition Leader Bruce Golding pointed out that this would result in the number of Government senators increasing to 14, one more than the figure stipulated by the Constitution.
He told The Gleaner on the weekend that he had given his lawyers instructions to begin legal proceedings after Mr. Horne failed to step down last week.
The Senate is currently on a break until early next month.
Mr. Horne, a member of the PNP prior to the 2002 general elections, switched allegiance to the JLP in a bid to enter Parliament on the party's ticket. He, however, lost the contest to the PNP's John Junor in Central Manchester.
