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Feb 15 06 12:51 PM
Quote:Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) may force early polls published: Wednesday | February 15, 2006 Earl Moxam, Senior Gleaner Writer A SENIOR Opposition figure is serving notice that the Government could face a vote of no confidence in Parliament if divisions sparked by the current presidential campaign in the ruling party are not healed after the election. "I could see that happening, if eight or so of the governing party members decide that they will not support their new president (for the post of Prime Minister)", Dr. Horace Chang, deputy leader of the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), told The Gleaner.It would be in keeping with the country's Westminster parliamentary system, Dr. Chang said, for fresh elections to be called, following a successful no-confidence vote against the Government. That, he said, would meet the objectives of the Opposition, anxious to see the back of the People's National Party (PNP), which has been in Government since February 1989.Four candidates have been nominated for the February 25 presidential election - Karl Blythe, Omar Davies, Peter Phillips, and Portia Simpson Miller. Among the four, Mr. Phillips reportedly has the support of a significant majority of the party's 34 Members of Parliament (MPs), followed by Mrs. Simpson Miller and Mr. Davies.In keeping with party tradition, it is expected that whoever emerges winner of the presidential contest will secure the backing of the other PNP MPs to be appointed Prime Minister by the Governor-General. There have been suggestions, however, that some MPs might resist the urge to throw their support behind the winning candidate for the post of Prime Minister, if that person was not their choice for the PNP presidency. CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION The implications of such a development would loom large in light of the constitutional provisions on the matter. Section 70(1) of the Jamaican Constitution (Chapter Six) requires the Governor-General to appoint as Prime Minister, the member of the House of Representatives who is best able to "command the support" of a majority of members of that House.In one scenario, a majority of PNP MPs could go against the party delegates' choice and recommend someone else to the Governor-General for appointment as Prime Minister.In an even more unlikely but equally intriguing scenario, with the Government side split, the way would possibly be opened for the 26 Opposition MPs to indicate to the Governor-General their support for their leader, Bruce Golding, to be appointed Prime Minister.This, possibility, according to attorney-at-law, Bert Samuels, should not be dismissed entirely. "The Constitution does not speak of a majority from a party but a majority from the members of the House ... and it is to Parliament that the Constitution looks for the selection of a Prime Minister and not the parties". Therefore, he argues, if the JLP members were to convince the Governor-General that they, with their bloc of 26 members in the 60-seat legislature, represent the largest single body of support for one candidate, he would be obliged to appoint that person as Prime Minister.But, according to Dr. Chang, the Opposition is not likely to go that route, preferring instead to call for a no-confidence vote and thereby force an early election. "That way we would secure a mandate in our own right," he said.Significantly, however, K.D. Knight, one of the most vocal supporters of Mr. Peter Phillips, has affirmed that he would do all in his powers to avert a constitutional crisis, should Mrs. Simpson Miller win the party presidency."In speaking with my constituents (in East Central St. Catherine), I have told them that if a majority of the delegates support Comrade Portia Simpson Miller, I would not hesitate in supporting her election as Prime Minister, and I would take a lead role in asking the MPs on the PNP side to support her to the fullest as Prime Minister; so that a constitutional dilemma cannot arise," Mr. Knight told The Gleaner.
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