'Toothless bulldog' - Simpson Miller shreds Government's term-limit proposal

Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer

Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller yesterday rejected Prime Minister Bruce Golding's proposal for term limits to be imposed on persons occupying the Office of the Prime Minister, characterising it as ineffective and unnecessary.

"The legislation will turn out to be a toothless bulldog," Simpson Miller warned the House of Representatives at the start of the debate on the term limits for prime ministers.

She charged that the presentation of the bill to the Parliament and the public was typical of the Golding Government's approach to governance.

"The manner in which the prime minister presented the bill is demonstrative of the exclusionary approach of this Government," Simpson Miller declared.

The opposition leader warned that if the Government pushes through the bill, which can be done by a simple majority, her administration would reverse the decision by a similar process.

"In the same way it can be amended by one government, it can also be undone by a future government," declared Simpson Miller.

Opening the debate, Golding contended that what is currently being played out under the existing system spoke to the need for changes to the political landscape.

He said there was need for a change in the political arena.

"What is being determined is not leadership in a political party but has implications on a country," declared Golding.

The prime minister argued that the two-term limit that is being proposed is intended to create a framework to engender successor planning, and the creation of greater momentum within the political process.

"We can't legislate, but we can encourage the (political) dynamics that we think is necessary," asserted Golding.

"Term limits, I concede, is not a feature of the Westminster model, but there is no reason why we can't break new ground."

Scoffed at argument

But Simpson Miller scoffed at Golding's arguments, discarding the term-limit proposal while insisting that she was not making a position on the desirability of term limits.

"We think a decision should made after wide consultation," suggested Simpson Miller.

She argued that the passage of the proposed legislation would stand in the way of the wishes of the Jamaica people.

"The prime minister is seeking to determine the wish of the people," said Simpson Miller.

"This type of policy decision, without inclusiveness, is more than likely to prove ineffective.

She told the House that term limits are more suited to countries with a presidential system of government instead of those with parliamentary democracies.

"The proposal curtails the right of elected members to select their head of government," argued Simpson Miller.

Law could be exploited

At the same time, Simpson Miller, demonstrating the inefficacy of the proposed legislation, contended that the law could be easily exploited by a sitting prime minister, rendering it ineffective.

The law makes provision for prime ministers to serve for nine years, but allows him or her to continue to the end of the electoral tenure if still in office at the time.

Simpson Miller argued that a prime minister, in his eighth year, could exploit the law by calling an election, creating an opportunity for him to serve into his 14th year.

"I don't know where this nine years originated," declared Simpson Miller. "A simple and effective way to do this is to legislate it in the JLP (Jamaica Labour Party)," she quipped.

Golding is the leader of the JLP, which currently forms the Government. The JLP promised in its 2007 election manifesto to institute term limits for a prime minister and to legislate fixed election dates as a means of strengthening governance in the country.

Leader of Government Business in the House, Andrew Holness, has accepted a suggestion from Simpson Miller for suspension of debate to facilitate public consultations.