KINGSTON, Jamaica — Leader of Government Business, A J Nicholson, confirmed in the Senate today that the Government would discuss a bipartisan approach to resolving the issues emanating from the debate on the three Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) Bills.

But, Nicholson slammed the Opposition over its appeal for consensus and the holding of a referendum to accommodate the public’s position on proposals to replace the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) with the CCJ.

According to him the Opposition’s cry for a referendum has created a wall between Government and Opposition members of the Senate.

“This referendum thing has caused a wall between us. Tell your leaders present and past, tear down that wall. Tear down that referendum wall. You have seen what it has caused,” he insisted.

He added that no country, which has abandoned the UK Privy Council as the final Court of Appeal, called a referendum before making the decision.

“Not one has gone the route of a referendum…Not one. But what? Superior wisdom

rests and resides with the Jamaica Labour Party! They know better than everybody else!” Nicholson commented.

Nicholson also stated that there was no need for consensus either, which he suggested meant that all 21 senators would have to support the Bills.

He said that the fact that there are 13 government senators in the 21-seat Senate did not mean that Constitution dictates that there should be cooperation in the Senate to achieve a 2/3 majority.

“Were it so, the constitution would have said so,” Nicholson argued.

He said that the Constitution would be institutionalising partisan gridlock, if it gave any party a licence to block any vote in the Senate.

Balford Henry