CRC Presidential Deliberations Ongoing

Members of the Constitutional Reform Committee (CRC) are currently deliberating matters regarding the Office of the President.

This Office is a critical feature of a Republican State that reflects the separation of powers, with the President operating in a neutral, non-partisan capacity.

Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Marlene Malahoo Forte, says three categories are being considered by the Committee, noting that “from what we hear from Jamaicans, we know that they don’t really want a mere ceremonial President”.

“After much deliberation and consideration, the Committee has categorised three forms of presidents for consideration, and the one that we believe comes closest to what we hear Jamaicans are asking for is a Non-Executive President as a formal Head of State,” she said.

This category of President would not only perform ceremonial functions.

Important executive functions would also be vested with the person in the position.

Minister Malahoo Forte, who co-Chairs the Committee, said these functions would not involve the day-to-day running of government.

“It’s also important to point out that the presidential system is different from the parliamentary system. Some people think that it is only former colonies of the United Kingdom that have a parliamentary system. This is not true. We want this system that is suitable for Jamaica,” she said.

Minister Malahoo Forte was speaking during a Jamaica Information Service (JIS) ‘Think Tank’ at the Agency’s Head Office in Kingston, on Thursday (November 23).

The Committee’s work builds on recommendations of the 1995 Joint Select Committee on Constitutional and Electoral Reform (JSCCER).

The JSCCER recommended that a new Constitution should create a Jamaican Republic with the Head of State being a President who would be above partisan politics.

The recommendation states that the President should be appointed on the nomination of the Prime Minister in consultation with the Leader of the Opposition, subject to Parliamentary confirmation by a two-thirds majority on a secret ballot.

A super-majority would signal consensus on the selection of the President.

Minister Malahoo said the Committee has been paying close attention to the process of how the President is instated.

“When we deliberated on the option of putting the candidate to the people, we considered whether that would cause the process to be politicised; and if we do not, if we are looking for a President who would be above the political fray, then the process should also guard against politicising the selection process,” she explained.

While no final decisions have been made regarding the specifications surrounding the Office of the President, it is expected that the nominee would represent national identity and unity, be above the partisan fray and act as a neutral arbiter.