PM to Respond to Letter from Opposition Leader

Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Marlene Malahoo Forte, says Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, will respond to the letter sent by the Opposition, which essentially raised three issues about the constitutional reform process.

Opposition Leader, Mark Golding, wrote to Prime Minister Holness on May 7, outlining his concern regarding the timeline for severing ties with the British monarchy and the United Kingdom-based Privy Council.

Addressing Wednesday’s (May 15) post-Cabinet press briefing, at Jamaica House, Mrs. Malahoo Forte said the first had to do with the matter of the final Court.

“We were always of the understanding that having accepted that the process would be phased, what they required was a clear timeline as to when we would get to the issue and we said then and say again, that the intention always was to get the Bill in to deal with the abolition of the monarchy as the form of Government and then begin the work on the final Court,” she said.

Mrs. Malahoo Forte underscored that as the matter of the final Court is being discussed, Jamaica must also look on the issue of justice – the kind of justice and the philosophy of the Court.

“Having had the experience that we have, what it is that will be in the best interest of Jamaicans who use the court system to resolve their differences and also bearing in mind that the court also determines what is the appropriate limit of the executive and that of the legislative branches,” she said.

She further shared that constitutional reform must be approached in a very studied way and that does not equate to delay.

“The Prime Minister is prepared to continue the process to its rightful end, step by step, stage by stage, phase by phase. Our commitment is to do what is right for the people of Jamaica who have entrusted us with these seats of authority and roles on their behalf,” Mrs. Malahoo Forte said.