FORMER Jamaica Labour Party senator Norman Horne who has resigned from the party but has refused to resign from the Senate, was among those who offered salutations to newly-elected leader of the party Senator Bruce Golding on Friday.

“Please allow me to also join in congratulating Mr Golding on his accomplishment as the new leader of the Jamaica Labour Party, one of the fundamental pillars of our democracy, but also to congratulate him in addition for being the only person, I think, in Jamaica to have led two separate political parties and, probably, the world,” Senator Horne said.

It was his first day in the Senate since he resigned from the JLP in January and he sat by himself in a row to the left of the JLP senators.

His comments came after Golding had thanked other Senate members for their welcome.

Golding had responded to the welcome from Senator Burchell Whiteman, leader of government business, and Senator Anthony Johnson, leader of opposition business, as well as Senator Trevor Munroe, a university professor, who reminded the chamber that he had taught Golding at the University of the West Indies.

During the welcomes, Senator AJ Nicholson suggested in good humour that Golding should remain in the Senate. Senator Whiteman said he couldn’t echo those sentiments, “because I have a feeling that some other event is likely to take him from us, soon.”

Golding will be vying for the vacant West Kingston parliamentary seat, once Prime Minister PJ Patterson calls a by-election.