Opposition threatens to withdraw from committee reviewing Constitution Amendment Act

   

The impasse between the government and opposition on the approach to the proposed amendments to the Constitution took centre stage at Wednesday's first meeting of the Joint Select Committee reviewing The Constitution (Amendment) (Republic) Act 2024.

 

The opposition has called for full decolonisation, including the country moving away from the UK Privy Council as its final appellate court, rather than what it has termed the current piecemeal approach.

 

In his opening remarks, Leader of the Opposition Mark Golding indicated if there is no change to the process, opposition members on the joint select committee would take no further part in the deliberations after today. 

 

"So Madam Chair, I wish to make it polucidly clear that we also have some other serious concerns in relation to some of the contents of this bill, which we would wish to tackle in the deliberations of this joint select committee. However, the fundamental question of access to justice in the interests of the Jamaican people must be addressed first. As such, as from the adjournment of this morning's meeting, we may ask to be excused from further participation in this committee, pending the answers to these questions being given to the public by the Prime Minister," he announced. 

 

Chairperson of the committee, Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs Marlene Malahoo Forte, reiterated the government's position that the amendments to the Constitution will be done in stages.