KINGSTON, Jamaica — Prime Minister Andrew Holness says the Government will continue to pursue consensus on constitutional reform, because the constitutional and governance architecture of the country cannot be disturbed without consensus.

He assured Jamaicans that the efforts made by the Government towards Jamaica becoming a Republic were not in vain.

His comment follows the decision of the Opposition representatives on the Constitutional Reform Committee (CRC) not to sign off on the committee’s report until concerns raised about the reform process are resolved.

READ: The CRC has failed to engage the masses

Addressing Wednesday’s (May 15) post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Holness said he had reasonable expectation that the Government and the Opposition were proceeding in good faith.

“My initial assessment of the response of the Opposition is that I am disappointed, but I am not surprised. I’m not surprised that they would’ve tried to find every way out of seeing this process through to its rightful conclusion,” Holness said.

“That is the reality, and consensus takes time and it takes effort. We are in a certain season described by others as silly. I tend to sometimes agree, but we will get over it and Jamaica will evolve into its rightful form, constitutionally, [of] governance in terms of our economic independence, and socially,” he added.

— JIS