Chuck urges Golding to resume bipartisan talks on constitutional reform

 

Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Delroy Chuck is urging Opposition Leader Mark Golding to resume discussions with the government on constitutional reform. 

 

In early October, Mr. Golding rejected a proposal from Minister Chuck for them to meet on the matter, indicating that he was expecting to discuss the way forward with Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness as a first step. 

 

The Prime Minister responded by extending an invitation to the Opposition Leader to continue discussions through Vale Royal Talks. 

 

There has been no further public communication from Mr. Golding. 

 

Delivering the keynote address at the commissioning of Justices of the Peace at Kingston Bookshop in downtown Kingston on Thursday, the Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister said the issues dividing both sides and need to be resolved by the end of the current Parliamentary term. 

 

Speaking on the Morning Agenda on Power 106 on Monday, Mr. Chuck said he would not be extending another invitation to the Opposition Leader, but would instead await Mr. Golding's next move or a decision coming out of a meeting of the two leaders. 

 

The minister said there is no date for that meeting, as the focus of the government is on Hurricane Melissa recovery efforts. 

 

"I wrote the Opposition Leader, he didn't respond to me. He responded to the Prime Minister. He didn't respond to me," Mr. Chuck explained, suggesting there was no need to send a follow-up letter. 

 

"We await the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition putting together a meeting and giving some direction," he said, adding that he is "willing to move forward" as soon as that meeting is complete. 

 

A sticking point in the bipartisan talks is the opposition's stance that its supports for Jamaica's transitioning to a republic is conditional on the acceptance of the Caribbean Court of Justice as Jamaica's final appellate court. But the prime minister has disclosed a preference for Jamaica to establish its own final appellate court. 

 

Meanwhile, Mr. Chuck has asserted that the opposition's position on constitutional reform is not practical and is slowing the process. 

 

He said his first step in the discussion with the opposition would be an agreement for the re-tabling of the constitutional reform bill. The Constitution (Amendment) (Republic) Bill 2024 was laid in the House of Representatives on December 10 last year. 

 

Mr. Chuck said the discussions can start on the issues on which the parties agree.

 

"What was tabled in the last Parliament needs to be revised so that we have full buy-in by the opposition and the government. In other words, the opposition does not agree with everything, and that would be the first consideration when we meet. Let us look how we can get a bill tabled in Parliament so that Parliament can support it and enact the ceremonial presidency - which is what it's all about - and also agree on how that ceremonial president will be created and approved by the two political parties and by Parliament. So let's move on with that. That's all I've been saying," he insisted.