Constitutional reform considerations
Published:Monday | February 17, 2025 | 9:43 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
I read with interest the letter to the editor titled ‘Insufficient time to comment on constitutional reform bill’, and in spite of it referring to a deadline for submission of comments of January 29, I am still going to comment as follows:
Public education – The entire process has had insufficient public education and discourse, and no government should now try to rush us to approve a bill which is so important without wide public debate and discussion. The absolute inadequacy of public education completely ignored Minister Malahoo Forte’s acknowledgement that “many Jamaicans do not even know what is contained in the Constitution.. “ and the recommendation of civil society organisations that at least a year of public education was needed before any referendum.
Fixed date for elections – This matter has been discussed forever and promised several times, but the bill does not mention this at all, and needs to have either four- or five-year periods for both local and general elections. Prime Minister Andrew Holness himself, in his 2016 campaign, also committed to instituting measures to achieve these “within the first 100 days of his administration”.
Term limits – This has also been debated forever and there was a commitment in Jamaica’s National Development Plan, Vision 2030 to implement term limits.
Impeachment – Any new Constitution must include a section that allows for elected or selected servants to be recalled or removed from office if they breach the rules of conduct, including not attending Parliament for a significant number of sessions. Former Prime Minister Golding started the process of implementation by drafting an impeachment bill; however, this has been gathering cobwebs in file 13 ever since!
Caribbean Court of Justice/Privy Council –This debate should not even be taking place, as it is clear in my mind that if we are to remove the King as our head of state, then we also no longer need to be under the jurisdiction of the Privy Council.
Even though the time advertised to submit comments has expired, I humbly submit my comments in good faith that they will be considered.
ROBERT STEPHENS