OPPOSITION Leader Portia Simpson Miller yesterday condemned the alleged attack on People’s National Party (PNP) member of parliament Dr Ian Hayles by three opposition members outside Gordon House on Thursday, moments after adjournment of the sitting.

“I hope that is not a reflection of what will happen with this new Parliament and I want to make it clear that I’m not going to tolerate that kind of behaviour to any member of the opposition,” she said at a press briefing at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston.

The attack, which has already drawn a public apology from Prime Minister Bruce Golding, who has called it unfortunate, happened in the precincts of Parliament.

Hayles, who was encouraged to return to Jamaica by former Prime Minister Edward Seaga, served as an executive member of the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) professional affiliate, Generation 2000, before he left the JLP and joined the People’s National Party (PNP).

According to PNP sources, Hayles’ failure to shake hands with the prime minister following his swearing-in may not have been an oversight, but did not warrant the verbal and physical attack on him.

“Look how many of them did not shake Portia’s hand? Did anybody lay wait them and hit them?” said the PNP source.

At the centre of the controversial incident were Senators Desmond McKenzie, Aundre Franklin and Dwight Nelson. However, they denied assaulting the PNP MP.

The incident allegedly took place in earshot and in view of several parliamentarians from both sides.