PNP boycotts CARICOM meeting

Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer

THE PEOPLE'S National Party (PNP) has confirmed that it boycotted Sunday's ceremonial opening of the 31st meeting of CARICOM Heads of Government in Montego Bay, St James.

PNP Deputy Chairman Anthony Hylton, who shadows the foreign affairs portfolio, confirmed what journalists who covered the function suspected all along - that the Opposition party had intentionally stayed away from the opening ceremony.

Hylton told The Gleaner that this was intended to reinforce the Opposition's stance that Prime Minister Bruce Golding does not have the moral authority to lead CARICOM at this time.

"We have a multiplicity of reasons outlined in the no-confidence motion which was brought to Parliament against Mr Golding," said Hylton.

"If he cannot lead the Jamaican people then, by extension, he cannot lead CARICOM."

Arrangements were made for members of the PNP leadership, including its president Portia Simpson Miller, but the seats remained noticeably vacant throughout the ceremony.

Hylton said the PNP could not participate under circumstances that could be interpreted as an endorsement of the actions of the Government.

He argued that the issues highlighted in the no-confidence motion against Golding were still to be resolved.

The motion, which was moved by Simpson Miller, called for Golding to be sanctioned for his role in the controversial Manatt, Phelps & Phillips affair.

No coherent position

The Government had maintained that it was the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) which engaged the US law firm through local attorney Harold Brady to lobby the Americans in a purported treaty dispute with Jamaica, involving the extradition request for alleged west Kingston crime lord Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.

After mounting criticisms about the affair, the prime minister confessed that he had sanctioned the initiative for members of the JLP to approach Manatt.

Hylton contended that, after three years in office, the Golding government has failed to demonstrate a coherent view on CARICOM.

The PNP argues that the administration is yet to articulate a coherent position on both the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and the Caribbean Court of Justice, among other pressing regional issues.

"They have refused to finalise the ratification of the CCJ in its original jurisdiction, let alone the final jurisdiction, although the matter has been brought to Cabinet," Hylton argued. "Let alone on the appellate jurisdiction, after three years in office."

Hylton charged that in the final analysis the Government continues to demonstrate that it does not have a commitment to CARICOM.

The foreign affairs spokesman, however, stressed that the PNP's position on the Golding administration was by no means a decision on CARICOM and should therefore not be construed as going against the PNP's stance on regional integration.

gary.spaulding@gleanerjm.com