Golding Pushes Back on Holness Meeting Proposal, Citing Need for Direct Partnership in Constitutional Reform

The constitutional reform process in Jamaica, already delayed by political divisions, faces early turbulence in the new parliamentary term. Opposition Leader Mark Golding has pushed back against Prime Minister Andrew Holness’s proposal that he meet with Justice Minister Delroy Chuck instead of Holness directly. Golding insists that true bipartisan collaboration must come at the leadership level if Jamaica is to successfully transition to a republic.

Key Details

On October 3, 2025, People’s National Party (PNP) President and Opposition Leader Mark Golding made public a letter addressed to Prime Minister Andrew Holness. In it, he rejected Holness’s suggestion that he meet with Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Delroy Chuck to discuss the way forward on constitutional reform.

Golding emphasized that the matter of Jamaica becoming a republic requires direct partnership between the leaders of the country’s two main political parties. He pointed to the Government’s lack of a two-thirds majority in either House of Parliament, underscoring the necessity of cooperation if constitutional changes are to succeed.

“The approach of meeting with Minister Chuck will not initiate the required partnership of which we speak,” Golding wrote, urging Holness to reconsider his proposal.

Background

The constitutional reform process was stalled in the previous parliamentary term after major disagreements between the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the PNP. While both parties support Jamaica’s move to sever ties with the British monarch and establish a republic, they diverge sharply on the issue of the final appellate court.

• PNP’s Position: Favors adopting the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

• JLP’s Position: Prefers Jamaica establishing its own final court, with the ultimate decision made by the people through a referendum.

These differences led the PNP in January 2025 to boycott meetings of the Joint Select Committee reviewing the Constitution (Amendment) Republic Bill. The process has remained at an impasse since then.

Holness, during the September 2024 election campaign and in earlier parliamentary debates, reaffirmed his party’s commitment to a referendum on the matter.

Additionally, Marlene Malahoo Forte, the former Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs who was closely tied to the reform effort, was not reappointed to the Cabinet after the September 3, 2025, General Election. Portions of her ministry have since been absorbed into Chuck’s Justice Ministry.

Quotes

Golding, in his letter to Holness, cited Jamaica’s political history to strengthen his call for bipartisan engagement at the highest level:

• “The only route to reaping success in this reform effort is through authentic collaboration, as demonstrated by former political leaders.”

• “It is my heartfelt desire that we complete our unfinished circle of independence by establishing Jamaica’s full sovereignty. This means leaving both the British monarch as head of state and the British monarch’s Privy Council as the final court of appeal.”

He also referenced past cooperation across party lines, noting:

• In 2010, then Prime Minister Bruce Golding and Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller collaborated on the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms.

• In 2021, former Prime Minister PJ Patterson stressed that constitutional reform “requires unity of purpose and action, transcending partisan borders.”

Analysis

The early exchange between Holness and Golding highlights the fragility of Jamaica’s constitutional reform process. While there is consensus on removing the British monarch as head of state, the deep divide over the final court of appeal remains the most significant stumbling block.

Golding’s decision to make his letter public signals a deliberate effort to put pressure on Holness and the JLP to prioritize bipartisan talks at the leadership level rather than through intermediaries. This could either encourage genuine dialogue or further deepen mistrust between the two sides.

With Jamaica at a historic crossroads, the effectiveness of this reform process depends on whether both leaders can bridge partisan divides and present a united front to the people.

Our Opinion

Constitutional reform is not merely a political exercise but a national project requiring broad consensus. While procedural matters may appear technical, the reality is that such reforms will determine the scope of Jamaica’s sovereignty for generations. Both parties must act in good faith, recognizing that their shared goal is a stronger, fully independent Jamaica. The public will be watching closely, and history will not look kindly on leaders who allow partisan divides to stall progress yet again.