Holness wants ganja, buggery laws put to referendum
Published:Saturday | April 26, 2014 | 12:00 AM
Edmond Campbell, Senior Staff Reporter
Opposition Leader Andrew Holness has challenged the Portia Simpson Miller administration to place the decriminalisation of ganja and a review of the country's buggery law before Jamaicans in a referendum in the next local government elections due by March next year.
In his contribution to the Budget Debate in Gordon House, Holness also urged the Government to allow Jamaicans to decide on whether to make the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Jamaica's final appellate court and retain The Queen as head of state in the same referendum.
"There is great uncertainty in the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community - and [among] ordinary Jamaicans alike - about your promise to review the buggery act," Holness said as he addressed Prime Minister Simpson Miller, who sits across from him in the House of Representatives.
"The issue is very sensitive. I am sure you will agree that more Jamaicans, in general, and interest groups are more open to discussion on the matter. A way to finally bring some certainty to the matter would be to put it to the people," said Holness.
REFUSED TO DISCLOSE POSITION
His comment triggered instant reactions from members on both sides of the political divide, who engaged each other in sotto voce comments such as "not on this side".
One member on the Government side shouted "What's your position?", but Holness refused to be sidetracked, saying: "You want to know what my position is? Put it to the people."
The Opposition had already made it clear in the past that Jamaicans should be allowed to decide whether the country should maintain the United Kingdom-based Privy Council as its final appellate court or whether it should be replaced with the CCJ.
Addressing this long-standing debate, Holness said: "Madam Prime Minister, people want to know where we are going on the CCJ. Our position is clear: ultimately, it is a matter for the people to decide."
The opposition leader observed that the issue of ganja legalisation has been the subject of wide public debate with a very active lobby.
Commenting on a motion moved by Raymond Pryce, member of parliament for North East St Elizabeth, on the decriminalisation of marijuana, Holness said political parties do not have unified positions within their organisations. In this regard, he said Jamaicans should settle the issue in a referendum.
Turning to the long-standing issue of The Queen as head of state, Holness quipped: "I am sure Jamaica could have our own queen if we placed this on a referendum."
He said: "There is an election due some time next year, why not make arrangements to have a grand referendum at that time. It would be cost-effective and it would certainly settle all these thorny issues, while, at the same time, answering the question: where are we going on the social issues?"