Of constitutional reform and free movement
Dear Editor,
Most Jamaicans want constitutional reform and to remove the English monarch as our head of State. But it is clear the Government and Opposition have major disagreements about how to achieve this goal. Before we give up on constitutional reform, though, we must first examine the areas of contention.
The governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) does not support the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as our final court, and if it decides to move from the Privy Council, it wants our final court to be in Jamaica.
Currently, the Opposition People’s National Party(PNP) wants our final court to be the CCJ only. The positive on this issue is that both parties agree that they want to leave the UK Privy Council. I am hard core pro-JLP, but would agree to have the CCJ until we can establish our own final court here in Jamaica by 2050. But the Government and Opposition must secure agreement from all 63 Members of Parliament, which means both parties will have over 20 years to build our final court and determine how it will be structured in Jamaica.
Both the JLP and PNP agree the King should be removed as our head of State and be replaced by a president. From my understanding, the JLP wants to have a ceremonial president selected by a two-third majority in Parliament, but the PNP supports having a ceremonial president voted in by the people. Both parties could agree to have a president voted in office by the people every five years, and if it’s not working, change it in 2050.
If constitutional reform doesn’t occur, the current Government should lobby the United Kingdom to allow Jamaicans free movement to and from that country. In the current political climate between the EU and UK it will be tough to sell freedom of movement, but I believe that the current Labour Party and Conservative Party would be open to this proposal if Jamaica retains the King as its head of State.
The main reason the UK denied Jamaicans free movement was because of Jamaica’s high crime rate. But this Administration is likely to keep murders below 900 for the first time in two decades.
Teddylee Gray
Ocho Rios, St Ann
teddylee.gray@gmail.com
