KINGSTON, Jamaica – Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness has invited leader of the main Opposition People’s National Party, Mark Golding to resume the Vale Royal Talks on constitutional reform.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Opposition leader Mark GoldingIn a letter dated October 10, Holness clarified that the initial suggestion for Golding to meet with Justice Minister Delroy Chuck – an invitation that was refused – was merely a “courteous, and practical as a preliminary step” to brief the Opposition on the Government’s recent Cabinet and portfolio restructuring.
Golding’s letter, dated October 3, a reply to Holness’s September 30 invitation, had flatly rejected the proposal to meet with Chuck.
Golding insisted that the only way to initiate the “required partnership” he sought was through a direct meeting with the Prime Minister. He called for “authentic collaboration” consistent with former bipartisan reform efforts.
Holness in the latest letter, proposed that the two leaders return to the Vale Royal Talks mechanism, offering it as a crucial “platform to move forward constructively”.
“The Vale Royal Talks have proven useful in the past in providing a space for frank dialogue and principled compromise,” Holness said. “I am hopeful you will accept the proposal, and we stand ready to coordinate the logistics with your team”.
Holness told the Opposition Leader that his government has a direct mandate from the Jamaican people to prioritize transforming the country into a republic.
The Prime Minister said his administration made a commitment to the people when prosecuting the case on constitutional reform in the run up to the September 3 General Election. He noted that commitment is laid down in the JLP’s election manifesto.
The dispute points to the deeply contentious policy disagreement – the fate of the UK-based Privy Council – continues to cast a shadow over the reform timeline.
The Privy Council is Jamaica’s highest court.
The Opposition is adamant that constitutional reform must be a single, non-phased effort that simultaneously removes the British Monarch as Head of State and replaces the Privy Council as the final appellate court. The opposition supports the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) being the new final court.
The Government, however, proposed a phased approach, arguing that the issue of the final court should be handled in a later phase and with broad consultation, likely via a referendum. Holness has previously stated a preference for a Jamaican final court.
The Prime Minister said the Vale Royal Talks have been useful in facilitating frank dialogue and principled compromise and proposed that they return to the talks in the hope of moving forward in a constructive manner.