PJ Patterson Backs PNP’s Call to Sever Ties With Privy Council

Former Prime Minister of Jamaica, PJ Patterson, says the father of the Jamaica Labour Party, JLP, Sir Alexander Bustamante, agreed that Jamaica’s final appellate court would not remain with the United Kingdom Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

He made reference to the late JLP stalwart as he backed the Opposition People’s National Party, PNP, in its call to sever ties with the UK law lords.

He was delivering the keynote address at the PNP Region Six Outreach Committee learning from history to navigate tomorrow symposium.

This was held at the Sea Gardens Beach Resort.

Mahiri Stewart tells us more.

As the PNP continue to boycott the current ongoing constitutional reform process, the government has decided to press on without their support.

The opposition believes the process is flawed without a commitment to pull away from the London-based Privy Council.

Some public commentators have turned to the country’s elder statesmen, such as Bruce Golding and PJ Patterson, to work behind the scenes to break the deadlock.

However, Mr. Patterson has now come out in apparent support of the stance adopted by opposition leader, Mark Golding.

The former prime minister says this was a position accepted by both Norman Manley and Alexander Bustamante.

Mr. Patterson also took issue with the proposed method by which the President of Jamaica could be elected.