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There are growing calls for constitutional reform to prevent a recurrence of the problem now faced by the People's National Party (PNP) with Norman Horne refusing to resign from the Senate.
Former PNP member of parliament Lloyd B. Smith and former Jamaica Labour Party caretaker Danville Walker agree on the need for changes.
Mr. Smith argues that the situation is a crisis as it questions the structure of the Senate and how it can be manipulated.
He says without reform, a rogue senator could hold the parliament at ransom.
"It means therefore that there has to be reform. There is no question about that, that there must be an immediate attempt by the parliament to deal with this issue. At the same time, I find it to be a comedy of errors. Why didn't the Governor General's office indicate to the Leader of the Opposition that there was in fact no vacancy? Why on the other hand the Leader of Opposition did not do the necessary due diligence to ensure that there was in fact a vacancy?" he asserted.
Mr. Walker said the discussion will not impact the daily life of Jamaicans but has provided them with a better understanding of the Senate.
However, he said it has widened a problem which has been largely ignored.
"There needs to be some constitutional reform (on) a number of issues that we keep stubbing our toe over and then just brushing off and keep moving forward, only to do it again later," he suggested.
Both Mr. Walker and Mr. Smith, who were speaking Tuesday on the Morning Agenda on Power 106, also want another constitutional matter settled.
They say the stipulation in the constitution which prevents a person with dual citizenship from sitting in the House of Representatives should be removed.
"I do believe that that particular situation needs to be revised or expunged because in reality, we talk about the world now becoming just one big village and Jamaicans are all over the place, and in particular, in the United States. Now, we know that if you are a Commonwealth citizen, well you have a better chance," noted Mr. Smith.
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