‘Arrogant and immature’, G2K criticises Golding over stance on constitutional reform talks

Generation 2000 (G2K), the young professional arm of the Jamaica Labour Party, is taking issue with the stance of Opposition Leader Mark Golding, who has insisted that discussions on the Government’s constitutional reform should be between himself and Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness.

Golding, in a Friday, October 3 letter to Holness, rebuffed a proposal to meet with Minister of Justice Delroy Chuck to discuss next steps.

He was responding to a September 30 letter from Holness.

The letter from Holness was not released.

Golding argued that the talks should be between himself and Holness, pointing to the Prime Minister's call for partnership and collaboration.

He said Holness' proposal that he meet with Chuck "will not initiate the required partnership of which we speak."

"I therefore invite you to reconsider the matter in light of what I am suggesting in this letter, and look forward to hearing from you presently," he stated.

But G2K is accusing Golding of taking an "arrogant, entitled, and immature approach to constitutional reform."

The organisation is also accusing him of being disrespectful to Holness and the Office of the Prime Minister.

"G2K is of the view that Golding’s latest stance is another indicator of his willingness to act as an impediment to Jamaica removing the United Kingdom’s Monarch as Head of State," the organisation said in a statement on Sunday.

"It should also be noted that regarding the issue of constitutional reform and making Jamaica a republic, initially Golding had committed to proceeding on areas where there is agreement between both major political parties. He had also urged alacrity in deposing the UK-based monarchy as Head of State, but later backtracked when it appeared the Government’s move to have Jamaica become a republic would imminently succeed," it charged.

The issue of leaving the Privy Council has been a contentious one between both main political parties, with the Government proposing that the matter not be addressed in the first phase of the reform, while the Opposition insists it must be done in tandem with removing the King of England as Jamaica's Head of State.

The Opposition is also in favour of Jamaica joining the Caribbean Court of Justice’s appellate jurisdiction, while Holness has said he would prefer a Jamaican final court and for Jamaicans to have the final say on the matter through a referendum.

G2K is pushing for Golding to change his stance on the constitutional reform process and get on board with helping to move Jamaica to a republic.

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