Daraine Luton and Arthur Hall, Staff Reporters

Phillip Paulwell (foreground) sits in the unfamiliar chair of the leader of opposition business in the House of Representatives, beside Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller, following the resignation of Peter Phillips yesterday. Also in photo is Robert Pickersgill, MP for North West St Catherine. - photos by Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

THE SECTION of Parliament reserved for the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) was back-heavy during yesterday's sitting of the House of Representatives after the exodus of Dr Peter Phillips' supporters from their usual seats.

Phillips yesterday resigned as leader of government business in the House and spokesman on national security.

The defeated PNP presidential candidate, who stayed away from the House, escaped heckling from government members, but his colleagues were not spared.

The PNP has been on tenterhooks following Phillips' challenge to the leadership of Portia Simpson Miller who beat him by 373 votes on Saturday.

In the aftermath of the elections, Simpson Miller has been forced to dissolve her shadow Cabinet as several Phillips backers tendered resignations.

In a release yesterday, Simpson Miller said a new Council of Opposition Spokespersons will be appointed before the next sitting of the Parliament.

"The new Council of Spokes-persons will reflect the thrust of the parliamentary opposition to advance the progressive agenda for national development," Simpson Miller said in the release.

Resigned as spokespersons

Phillips, Sharon Hay-Webster, Maxine Henry-Wilson, Fitz Jackson and Dean Peart have resigned as spokespersons.

The developments proved a sticky affair for the PNP. With Phillips resigning as leader of opposition business, Jackson, whose resignation takes effect today, was expected to deputise.

However, he was unusually late leaving the Opposition in a bind.

Who would guide the affairs of the Opposition for the day? was the big question.

Phillip Paulwell, a Simpson Miller supporter, answered the call and was warmly received by members on both sides of the House.

"Who seh yuh done? Yuh just a come!" government member, Daryl Vaz, shouted. Paulwell was returning to the front benches for the first time since November last year when the Cuban light-bulb affair broke.

At that time, he resigned as shadow minister for energy and moved to the second row.

Temporary assignment

Paulwell told the House that the role of acting leader of opposition business was a "temporary assignment".

Government members, however, were enjoying the new-look opposition arrangement with only a few persons in the front row.

Even Dr Fenton Ferguson, a Phillips supporter who was elected vice-president on Sunday, abandoned his seat in the front row.

First-time MP and newly elected vice-president, Noel Arscott, could not resist the temptation of the front row. After first taking his seat in the usual place on the Opposition back benches, Arscott moved forward to rub shoulders with Roger Clarke up front.

Poking fun

Government member Robert Montague continued to poke fun when he sent Jamaica Labour Party membership forms via an orderly, to Dean Peart and Hay-Webster and told them that Phillips and Henry-Wilson have already signed up to join the Labour Party.

Hay-Webster was not amused and squeezed her form into a ball and rested it on her table.

Meanwhile, senior members of the PNP have closed ranks and rejected claims that the party is in crisis even as a rash of resignations hit the party.

Phillips said that his resignation was in keeping with the highest political traditions and his sense of honour.

Smith returns to Parliament

The excitement in the House was not confined to a shapeless Opposition, yesterday.

Senior government member Derrick Smith received a standing ovation when he returned to the chambers for the first time since July.

Smith was absent due to illness.

He told his colleagues that he was happy to have returned and that he was grateful for their support during his period of challenge.

Lisa Hanna, MP, in talks with Fitz Jackson who resigned as the deputy leader of opposition business in the House of Representatives yesterday.

(From left) MPs Sharon Hay-Webster, Dean Peart and Fitz Jackson take back seats on the opposition benches in Parliament.

Derrick Smith (left), leader of govern-ment business in the House of Representatives, enters the chamber with Clive Mullings, minister of energy.