Minister within the Ministry of Education, Nicolette Henry has sought to explain the seating situation which saw Opposition members walking out of the Jubilee celebrations at D’Urban Park following claims that its parliamentarians were denied seats.

In a statement issued on Friday, Minister Henry said that the Parliamentary Opposition was orally briefed on May 24 about several protocols to be observed on May 25, which included that all members be seated by 9:45pm and they should use the North Western (Homestretch /Vlissengen Road) entrance.

According to Minister Henry, the PPP was informed that Opposition Leader, Bharrat Jagdeo will be seated in Presidential Section with all other past Presidents and Prime Ministers while all other PPP members will be seated in the other VIP section.

On the night in question, Minister Henry claims that the PPP Parliamentarians entered the venue via South Western entrance (Hadfield Street).

“Had it not been for the police insistence on using the North Western entrance this would have resulted in the Opposition and President arriving on the tarmac at the same time,” Minister Henry clarified.

She claims that the following Persons proceeded to the Presidential Section: Bharat Jagdeo, Irfan Ali, Anil Nandalall, Juan Edgehill and Clement Rohee.

“The remaining members remain standing in the passage as Ms. Manickhand indicated they will only sit when they can be assigned seats together. (This was told to the usher),” Minister Henry noted in her statement.

She further noted that upon arriving at the Presidential Section, the Opposition Leader indicated that there were concerns with the seating, and she assured him that this will be addressed immediately.

“So I proceeded by personally asking other invited persons to give up their seats to ensure the Opposition members were all seated together.  As soon as the persons began to give up their seats. The Opposition walked out,” Minister Henry said.

“In the circumstances I wish to state that as the organizer of this event I apologize for any inconvenience, embarrassment or distress this incident may have caused,” the Minister concluded.

The PPP in a statement issued the very night noted that upon arrival at the VIP area tonight, there were no seats set aside for the Opposition MPs, except for the two former Presidents, Dr. Jagdeo and Mr. Sam Hinds and two other MPs.

“The majority of the MPs were left standing. Appeals were made to Minister Henry and Attorney-General Basil Williams but to no avail. However, in the interim dozens of people were escorted to and seated in the VIP area. After standing for over half of an hour in the passage way and no seats were made available, the Leader of the Opposition, Former President Hinds, accompanied by the MPs and their spouses, departed.

“The humiliation of standing in the passage way while other people were being seated was deliberately designed to humiliate and embarrass the PPP/C parliamentary opposition,” the PPP stated.