Portia to miss \'conscience\' vote

Opposition Leader, Portia Simpson Miller is not expected to attend Parliament for tomorrow’s conscience vote on whether to retain the death penalty.



Mrs. Simpson Miller said she would be leaving the island in the morning for another engagement.



The Opposition Leader was noticeably absent last Wednesday, when the House was originally scheduled to vote on the matter.



After several contributions to the debate, the Prime Minister, Bruce Golding moved that the vote be postponed until tomorrow.



Mr. Golding said the delay would allow legislators more time to formulate their positions on the retention of the death penalty.



Parliamentary records show that Mrs. Simpson Miller was absent during the last conscience vote on the death penalty in 1979.



In that vote, the majority voted to keep hanging on the books.