Senate passes bill to extend tenure of DPP despite opposition

 

The Senate has passed a bill to amend the retirement age for the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Auditor General, despite rejection from opposition senators. 

 

There was more controversy regarding the issue on Friday, particularly with regards to the extension of the DPP's tenure, after a letter surfaced hinting that some members of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions were against the proposed extension.

 

The issue was raised when opposition Senators joined their colleagues in the Lower House in refusing to support legislation to amend the Constitution and extend the retirement age of the DPP.

 

Leader of Opposition Business in the Senate Peter Bunting accused the government side of violating the Constitution.

 

He questioned the motive of the government to cause controversy in its haste to extend the tenure of DPP Paula Llewellyn.

 

Senator Bunting then cited a damning letter written to Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Justice Minister Delroy Chuck by Senior Deputy DPP Kathy Ann Pyke, calling for a postponement of the constitutional amendment and an investigation into the viability of the DPP's Office.

 

He noted with interest the pointed conclusion of the letter, which stated that: "If [the investigation] is done, I am certain that you will find that there are serious issues to be addressed, which may warrant a conclusion that the proposed amendment should not be affected at this time in respect of the office of the director of public prosecutions, if at all."

 

Mr. Bunting chastised the government over its handling of the issue and warned that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has been irreparably damaged by the government's action to facilitate a single individual. 

 

But Leader of Government Business in the Senate Matthew Samuda argued that the objection by the Parliamentary Opposition was unnecessary. 

 

He insisted that the amendments to the Constitution are in keeping with the decision to raise the retirement age for judges, as well as to level the playing field for the DPP and Auditor General to match the retirement age of civil servants under the Pensions Act. 

 

"Mr. President, the framers of the Constitution anticipated that the age of retirement can change. It is the reason that it is not deeply entrenched. It is a simple amendment that should be supported by all, despite the Bruhaha," he asserted. 

 

He also defended the tenure of DPP Paula Llewellyn, saying she has fiercely prosecuted cases of corruption on both sides of the aisle.