THE People’s National Party (PNP) Opposition is boycotting scheduled activities of the Constitutional Reform Committee in protest of what they deem an undermining of that body, which was not consulted in amending the constitution to allow for the extension of the retirement age of the director of public prosecutions (DPP) and the auditor general.

Speaking at a PNP press conference on Wednesday, Leader of the Opposition Mark Golding said the PNP would sit out the next two committee community events slated for Wednesday and Thursday of this week.

The Opposition has been up in arms since Tuesday when the Government tabled in Parliament and passed the Constitution (Amendment of Sections 96[1] and 121[1]) Act, 2023, which moves the retirement age of the DPP and the auditor general from 60 to 65.

Golding took issue with the fact that no prior consultation was sought with him as Opposition leader nor with the Constitutional Reform Committee on the matter.

He had also warned that the Opposition would be reconsidering their participation on the Constitutional Reform Committee. The Opposition has two members on that committee — Senator Donna Scott Mottley and Member of Parliament Anthony Hylton.

On Wednesday morning Golding reiterated that the Opposition will be reviewing its role on that committee but no final decision has yet been taken in that regard.

“This amendment to the constitution was never brought to, or even mentioned at the committee that is looking at constitutional reform. They were completely bypassed, which shows scant regard and indeed amounts to disrespect and an undermining of the integrity of the work of that committee in reviewing the constitution and proposing amendments to the constitution,” he said.

“This piece of legislation that was rammed through the House yesterday was an exhibition of an autocratic approach to governing the country which violates established norms of democratic governance, including discussions and consultations with key stakeholders, so that the people’s interests can be protected,” he added.

Also speaking at Wednesday’s press conference, Hylton admitted that he boycotted the public consultations that were being held in St Elizabeth on Wednesday.

“I am not [there] because of what took place yesterday in the Parliament — the rush to have the amendment to the constitution taken yesterday in circumstances where, except for the brief statement by the minister of justice, nothing more was explained,” he said.

Hylton said that as a member of the committee he felt “very short-changed”, noting that he had asked why the process was being done in that manner, and why the Constitutional Reform Committee was not consulted, but got no answers.

“We are engaged in a process, we are engaged with the people. It would have been so good to have had this amendment referred to the committee and to make this a part of the public consultations,” he said.