Dear Editor,

The apparent backlash from the Jamaica Labour Party leadership race is being played out in the Senate. It slaps democracy and good governance smack in the face. The premise on which the Senate was drafted as part of the Constitution of Jamaica has been totally undermined by the muzzling of senators with the signing of this “pre-nuptial” agreement.

There can be no conscience vote expected of senators appointed by Mr Holness, as they have signed away this right, thus the integrity of the Senate is totally compromised.

With this type of action, there can be no safeguarding of the constitution, as everything must be rubber-stamped by the party.

I want to know if this is the kind of transformational leadership that Mr Holness claims he is bringing to the party?

How could a noted attorney like Arthur Williams draft such an document and sign off on it, along with a retired resident magistrate — Marlene Malahoo-Forte? One must wonder whether they genuinely wanted to serve or they were so hungry for power.

Now that Christoper Tufton and Williams have resigned — not by their own volition — I would assume that the undated letters for the others are still in the possession of a seemingly vindictive Opposition leader who could them to remove whomever in the same way he did to those two.

It should therefore be out of an abundance of caution and shame that those members resign forthwith, as there ability to make an informed, conscientious decision is very questionable. If they do not, then I would suggest to the PNP senators not to sit in the Senate with them, as clearly there is no room for deliberation. The integrity of the Senate is severely compromised, and although democracy won in the JLP leadership race, what we see winning in the Senate is nothing short of vindictiveness.

Ralston Chamberlain

ralston.chamberlain@alum.utoronto.ca