Good reason to change the constitution of Jamaica
published: Wednesday | November 23, 2005

THE EDITOR, Sir:

THE RACE continues to heat up for the position of president of the PNP and by extension, Prime Minister of Jamaica. While sentiments regarding their suitability are being hotly debated throughout the island, there are quite a number of Jamaicans who genuinely feel that none of these candidates, given their background and performance to date, qualify to occupy the office of Prime Minister.

QUESTION OF RIGHTS

This then brings us to the question of our rights as a society when it comes to choosing a leader. To what extent is this an abrogation of our democratic rights as citizens of this country? It does seem like a constitutional aberration when 4,000 people, called party delegates, unknown to the population, whose background and pedigree remain totally untested as far as the greater population is concerned and 50 per cent of whom are unemployed, are given the power to choose who our Prime Minister will be.

If ever there was a crying need for constitutional change in this country, this is it. The obvious and preferred method would be to have Prime Ministers voted into power separate and apart from MPs and away from party politics. It would serve us very well as a nation to keep this on the table for future consideration.

I am, etc.,

LANCE ROBINSON

lance@mail.infochan.com

Kingston 6

Via Go-Jamaica