Krystal’s Hitler comment on Holness spot on
Dear Editor,
We note the prime minister’s concern that he was recently likened to Hitler; however, it occurs to us that he missed the point of the constructive criticism.
As Krystal Tomlinson sought to clarify her tweets, she pointed to his habitual disregard for the constitution citing four glaring instances.
1 While Opposition Leader, Andrew Holness asked his senators to sign undated resignation letters. When challenged in the Supreme Court, the letters were struck down as unconstitutional and unlawful.
2 As prime minister, Holness led efforts to force into law, the national identification system (NIDS) Bill which was later struck down as unconstitutional, null and void.
3 In appointing the chief justice, Prime Minister Holness put Justice Bryan Sykes on what many described as probation, which was seen as a violation of the principle of separation of powers, stated by the island’s judges in an unprecedented statement on the matter.
4 Holness further implemented a year-long state of emergency (SOE) in St James as a crime-fighting tool, and sought a third extension of the SOE even as the nation’s sharpest legal minds publicly questioned the constitutionality of protracted SOEs. This approach to crime fighting delivered no long-term results. Weeks after the SOE ended St James was engulfed in gun violence.
It would behove the prime minister to consider and reflect on Krystal’s observations.
If it is not his intention to run the country with contempt for our constitution, which is for us a clear indicator that we must guard against our democracy being hijacked by a dictatorship, then he should apologise for his missteps, examine carefully the source of his advice, and take steps to ensure greater competence as he appoints his advisors.
We remind Prime Minister Holness that Chapter 3 of the constitution assures the right to freedom of thought, conscience, belief, and observance of political doctrines, as well as the right to freedom of expression.
We stand with Krystal!
The People’s National Party Women’s Movement
womensmovementpnp@gmail.com
