Government members of the Senate this afternoon (Feb 22) passed the bill for Jamaica’s compulsory acquisition of Venezuela’s stake in Petrojam, after opposition members walked-out of the debate on the bill.

The bill, which was passed in the lower house on Tuesday, was tabled and a debate started in the senate, today.

The opposition members walked out of the debate, after uproar was raised over comments made by Senator Damion Crawford and Leader of Government Business Kamina Johnson Smith’s response.

President of the Senate, Tom Tavares-Finson noted, that the events were unfortunate, but that the vote must go on.

Government members of the upper house went on to approve the bill for Jamaica’s acquisition of Venezuela’s 49 per cent stake in Petrojam, without amendment.

Earlier in the Senate, opposition members had questioned why there was a rush to table the bill and debate it, in the same day.

Acting Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate Floyd Morris objected to the debate, saying that senate members needed more time to peruse the bill and come to an informed position.

Opposition senator Lambert Brown echoed the same sentiments, adding that senators needed more time to go through the bill before debating.

He cautioned that the bill could have serious constitutional implications.