Member of Constitutional Reform Committee Calls for Meeting Between Holness and Golding

Member of the Constitutional Reform Committee, Dr. Nadeen Spence, believes Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness and Opposition Leader Mark Golding must have a conversation on Jamaica’s final appellate court in order to advance the constitutional reform process.

She says it’s impossible for the reform process to continue without the input of the opposition.

Dr. Nadeen Spence, member of the Constitutional Reform Committee.

Golding issued an ultimatum that he would withdraw the People’s National Party caucus from the joint select committee reviewing legislation to transform Jamaica into a republic, if the prime minister did not declare his position on Jamaica’s final appellate court.

Golding wants the Caribbean Court of Justice to replace the United Kingdom-based Privy Council as Jamaica’s final appellate court. True to his word, Golding and his opposition members have boycotted all three sittings of the committee.

At the most recent meeting on Wednesday, committee chair and constitutional affairs minister, Marlene Malahoo Forte, described the opposition’s boycott as selfish.

Public commentator and trade unionist, Helene Davis Whyte, believes former Prime Ministers Bruce Golding and PJ Patterson ought to intervene.

Helene Davis Whyte, public commentator.