OPPOSITION members of Parliament yesterday abandoned a sitting of Parliament after it became clear that Prime Minister Bruce Golding would not be making any further apologies for his contradictory actions surrounding the extradition of West Kingston strongman Christopher “Dudus” Coke and the engagement of US law Firm Manatt Phelps and Phillips.

The Opposition People’s National Party has been adamant that Golding should demit office given his admission in Parliament last week that he had given persons within the party the go ahead to hire the firm to lobby the US government.

Yesterday afternoon, seven minutes into the sitting’s scheduled 2:00 pm start, Opposition benches were still empty and only 22 Government members, inclusive of House Speaker Delroy Chuck, were in place.

In a seeming show of solidarity, all stood when Golding entered at 2:10 while House Clerk Heather Cooke took attendance, seconds later 16 Opposition members filed in strategically.

But it was not for long as at 2:13 the entire cohort was filing out of the chamber after being told no further statement on the Manatt Phelps and Phillips or Christopher Coke extradition issues would be forthcoming from Golding.

The question came from the leader of Opposition business, Derrick Kellier.

“Mr Speaker, I would like to enquire of the House leader whether or not the prime minister will be making a statement at any time today?” Kellier asked.

“The prime minister will not be making a statement at any time today,” leader of Government Business Andrew Holness responded to almost thin air, as Opposition members — who had come to the sitting armed with a no-confidence motion in the Government — left in a huff without tabling the resolution.

Government members were left to continue the sitting on their own like at the beginning while the Opposition hastily arranged a press briefing to air their discontent.

Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller was far from content with Golding’s apology to the nation on Monday night, at which time he also announced that Government would give the authority to proceed with Coke’s extradition.

She also said the Opposition will go ahead with plans to table a no-confidence motion against the Government.

“We expected the PM to stand in the Parliament and clear up everything and come clean and clear to the Parliament of the land and the people of this country,” Simpson Miller told reporters. “The fact that the prime minister felt that the broadcast was enough without giving an opportunity for further questions to be asked was totally unacceptable.”

“We have our motion (No Confidence Motion) ready to move, but we thought the prime minister had an additional statement to make. We feel in terms of the Manatt Phelps and Phillips issue we were not told the truth in Parliament. Now we are not going to wait on him to make any clarification. We are going to go with our motion,” the Opposition leader said.

But the Opposition’s motion might lose some of its bite and momentum from the current flurry over the issue as it will be at least another six days before it hits Parliament. The House, which should also have met today for the continuation of the Sectoral Debates which began last week, was instead adjourned until next Tuesday.