The Jamaica Left Alliance for National Democracy and Socialism, Jamaica LANDS, has recommended to the Constitutional Reform Committee, CRC, that the president be elected by the people, when Jamaica becomes a republic.
The suggestion is one of many recommendations from Jamaica Lands, as the CRC continues to seek consultation from the public on the country’s journey to fundamental change in governance structure.
Shaloy Smikle reports.
The Constitutional Reform Committee, CRC, says they received the submissions from Jamaica LANDS, during its ninth meeting on Wednesday.
In a statement, the CRC says Jamaica LANDS has also recommended that the elected president be neither a member of the Cabinet nor a ceremonial figurehead.
They’re also calling for the Prime Minister to be removed from office by an order of the President or a majority vote in either House of Parliament.
Additionally, the Senate should comprise 25 members with 20 seats allotted based on proportional representation election, and the remaining 5 seats allotted to the candidates who receive the most votes.
The statement also highlighted recommendations from the Jamaican Language Unit, JLU.
The JLU believes the Jamaican patois and English, should be declared the official languages of the country.
They also suggest that the constitution include a guarantee of freedom from discrimination on the ground of language, including the Jamaican Sign Language used by the Deaf community.
The JLU is also recommending that Language be included as a factor in the Constitution upon which discrimination, whether
direct or indirect, is prohibited.
The CRC says the next Town Hall meeting will be at the St. Mark’s Anglican Church Hall in Mandeville, Manchester on Wednesday May 17 at 5PM.
The event will also be live-streamed on the Legal Affairs Ministry’s Facebook and YouTube pages.
