The PNP has always been a steadfast supporter of ‘decolonisation’

Dear Editor,

The Clovis Toon does not necessarily represent the view of the Jamaica Observer.

The People’s National Party Youth Organisation (PNPYO) believes that Jamaica’s path to “decolonisation” should include a twinned process of removing The King as our head of State and shifting our final court from the Uk-based Privy Council to the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

In 1962, when Jamaica gained Independence, the People’s National Party (PNP) proposed that Jamaica should become a republic. At that time the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) refused to support such a move and the result is that we became a constitutional monarchy instead. In the 1970s and again in the 1990s the PNP proposed that Jamaica should make the move towards becoming a republic with an executive president. The JLP refused to support such a move as they preferred to have a ceremonial president.

Historically, the JLP has always been uncertain about progressive policies. In 1970 the idea of the CCJ was proposed, allegedly by Prime Minister Hugh Shearer from the JLP. The PNP was a quick convert to the party has always believed in the prospects of regional integration. The JLP, under former Prime Minister Edward Seaga, later changed its position and first insisted that the Privy Council remain as our final appellate court. Again, the JLP changed its position under Prime Minister Bruce Golding and proffered that Jamaica should have its own final court of appeal. Presently, the Andrew Holnessled Government believes that the matter should be decided by a referendum.

In true JLP fashion, Prime Minister Andrew Holness has from time to time made statements indicating the Government’s intention to cut ties with the British empire but has done nothing to concretise these intentions. Up until last year, when Jamaicans protested the visit of Prince William, the JLP showed no willingness to move the process along.

It came as a great surprise to many that Young Jamaica and JLP affiliates would say that the Opposition is seeking to delay/ derail our quest for decolonisation. Lest we forget, it is the JLP that has always stood with the empire, from Bustamante declaring, “We are with the West,” to Shearer designating Walter Rodney “persona non grata” and banning books that promoted black pride.

It is the PNP that has always been anti-empire and anti-colonial. Young Jamaica must understand that the reason Alexander Bustamante and Donald Sangster were knighted by the British Government was because they accepted the colonial powers. Norman Manley, when offered, declined out of principle. Young Jamaica must understand that we are not the same, we stand for something.

PNP President Mark Golding has made it patently clear that the PNP will not go into blind discussions with the Government. He responsibly indicated his concerns to the Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs Marlene Malahoo Forte over six months ago. She has only now responded with no clear answers to concerns raised by Golding. It is very clear that the minister held up the process, and continues to do so, by not providing clear information as to the parameters of the committee and its scope of work. If the Government is serious about collaboration, there is no good reason it cannot provide, at this time, the precise scope of work of the proposed committee. Failure to do so in this low trust environment only justifies the PNP’S cause for concern.

It is interesting that Young Jamaica speaks about the PNP derailing the quest to decolonise but is fully behind a proposed process that will see Jamaica removing The King as head of State but still begging him to act as our final judge on matters of appeal. Where is the decolonisation in that?

Recently, the prime minister announced that he wants to implement mandatory death sentences. It must be lost on him that it is the same Privy Council he wishes not to remove that declared mandatory death sentences unconstitutional in 2004 in Lambert Watson v Attorney General.

The PNP and the PNPYO are fully supportive of the decolonisation process, but we will not support a piecemeal approach. We want a clear understanding of that which the Government is proposing to review before we enter any meetings with them and we also want complete decolonisation, which must include removing appeals to His Majesty in Council. This is not much to ask.

It is patently clear who is stalling, and it is not the PNP.

People’s National Party Youth Organisation