Opposition withholds assent to Constitutional Reform Committee report

Leader of the Opposition, Mark Golding, has instructed opposition representatives on the Constitutional Reform Committee (CRC) not to sign off on the committee's report until concerns he has raised about the reform process are resolved.

The Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Marlene Malahoo Forte, is reportedly pushing to have the CRC's report signed and presented to Cabinet.

However, Golding wrote to Prime Minister Andrew Holness on May 7 outlining his concern regarding the timeline for severing ties with the British monarchy and the United Kingdom-based Privy Council.

In the letter, released to the media, Golding reiterated the Opposition's stance that both matters should be addressed at the same time, and not in a phased way, as the Government has proposed.

He again made it clear the Opposition would not be supporting the move to establish Jamaica as a republic, if the CCJ issue is placed on the back burner.

Golding said he is anticipating a response from the prime minister clarifying the government's stance on the critical matter of a seamless transition to full decolonisation as a unitary exercise.

In his letter, Golding also expressed concern that he has not been able to seek feedback from members of his party on the draft report from the CRC because of restrictions on sharing the document.

"The Opposition Leader was only yesterday provided a copy of the final Report, and then on a restricted basis. He will be submitting his comments on other aspects of the Report to the responsible Minister for the consideration of the Committee," a media release from the People's national Party said on Friday.

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