PNP blocking switch to republic because it is not in Gov’t, charges JLP’s Morrison
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Member of Parliament for St Catherine North East, Kerensia Morrison has accused the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) of “derailing the process of the island becoming a republic”, to the disappointment of many Jamaicans.
Addressing a youth group in her constituency on Tuesday, Morrison charged that many Jamaicans were looking forward to the island becoming a republic.
“I speak on behalf of many young Jamaicans, like myself, who had expectations, that having gone through an intensive process of constitutional consultations and reviews that Jamaica was on a good footing to finally become a Republic in our lifetime,” said Morrison.
Charging further that it appears that the PNP has acted out of partisan interest, she added: “The Opposition has shamefully put politics before country, and at the last moment flip flopped on supporting the process in which they participated and previously agreed.”
The MP also accused PNP President Mark Golding of not being consistent in his positioning on the issue of Jamaica becoming a republic.
“Our country will recall that in 2021, during a Parliamentary address, the Opposition Leader said the Government and Opposition should work towards making Jamaica a republic immediately. There was no mention of the CCJ [Caribbean Court of Justice] /Privy Council debate then,” Morrison commented.
She charged that the issues the PNP has raised concerning the Constitutional Reform Committee recommendations are merely excuses for the Opposition to withdraw from the process, “Simply because they are not in Government to preside over this milestone event in our nation”.
The PNP has indicated that while it supports the move to ditch the Monarchy and transition to a republic, this should be done at the same time the country switches from the Privy Council to the CCJ as its final appellate court.
“We’re not in favour of a phased approach to decolonisation. We’re not in favour of having one foot in and one foot out of the king’s yard. We [have to] decide to be in or out. It can’t be neither fish nor fowl. Time come to deal with this matter once and for all,” declared Golding at a media briefing on Tuesday.
