‘We will not change course’ – Golding

Opposition Leader Mark Golding says his parliamentary caucus will continue to stay away from the joint select committee looking at Jamaica’s constitutional reform until Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness declares his administration’s reasons for wanting to remain with the United Kingdom-based Privy Council.

Golding, who was speaking at a People’s National Party (PNP) meeting in Stewart Town, St Mary, on Sunday, said it has been over a year since it was communicated that Holness would issue a statement on the matter.

“We are not boycotting that committee but until the prime minister, who has been promising for over a year to say what his position is on his issue, comes to the Jamaican people and explains his position, we are pausing our participation with that committee,” Golding said.

Golding and the PNP have called for the severing of ties with the British Monarch to be twinned with Jamaica’s discontinuation of using the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council as its apex court.

The Opposition wants Jamaica to accede to the Caribbean Court of Justice, arguing that it allows greater access to more Jamaicans.

The thorny issue has spanned several administrations with the Jamaica Labour Party sticking with the British Court.

Holness has previously indicated that the matter should be put to Jamaicans in a referendum but critics have argued against this, noting that it may morph into a political campaign which may drown out the real objective.

Last week, Golding led a boycott of the joint select committee examining the Constitutional Amendment Bill.

However, Legal and Constitutional Affairs Minister Marlene Malahoo Forte said the review will not be stalled.

“We have not boycotted this joint select committee. I have said, and I said it at the first meeting of the committee. We want to know what the Government’s position is and we want to hear it from the prime minister as to why he wants to continue with a system where the Jamaican people don’t have effective access to their final court.

“Why he wants to keep that as the system on the people. We are saying we’re leaving the monarchy, we’re leaving them fully. Full decolonisation now. Jamaica must stand up and take its place in the world with pride…,” said Golding.

He said until Holness shares his position, the Opposition will not change course.

“When we hear what the prime minister has to say if it makes sense we can talk, if it doesn’t make sense, well, a just suh. I don’t think this thing is going to go anywhere at this time because we have to have more discussions to see if we can arrive at a consensus position to take the country forward when it comes to constitutional reform,” the opposition leader said.

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