Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs Marlene Malahoo Forte has sought to refute recent comments made by popular newspaper columnist Reverend Peter Espeut, who described the members of the Constitutional Reform Committee (CRC) as “a bunch of political appointees representing the party in power.”

Malahoo Forte, during her contribution to the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives, highlighted that several members represent civil society groups.

“When an article written by a man of the cloth, published on May 24, began with a false and disparaging statement that described members of the committee as a bunch of political appointees representing the party in power, it crossed a line. As the response from Dr Lloyd Barnett pointed out, although the members of the CRC were appointed by the Cabinet, in addition to those who were appointed on the nomination of the Leader of the Opposition, there are several who do not represent the party in power but are recognised as members of civil society broadly,” the Constitutional Affairs Minister said.

Espeut, in a column published on May 24 in the Jamaica Gleaner, criticised the CRC’s recommendations, claiming they would create a ‘Jamaican monarchy’ with the prime minister serving as the supreme monarch.

“The recommendations of the Constitutional Reform Committee (CRC) are exactly what I expected from a bunch of political appointees representing the party in power, dedicated to making proposals to increase the power of the ruling party over the opposition and the people. The opposition nominees did not sign the final report. I don’t see how they could! If the CRC recommendations are incorporated into Jamaica’s new Constitution, the power and prerogatives of whichever party forms the opposition will be severely curtailed, as I will explain. What these recommendations do is create a Jamaican monarchy, with the prime minister (PM) as the supreme monarch,” he said.

However, Malahoo Forte said, “If that man of the cloth is listening, I want him to know that many are questioning his approach, and I want him to know that he will not succeed in bringing anyone to Christ with such an ungodly, un-Christ-like approach.”

The 14-member committee was named by Prime Minister Andrew Holness in March of last year as the country seeks to transition to republic status.

The members include representatives from Government, the parliamentary opposition, attorney general, constitutional law and governance experts, representatives from academia and civil society, and a youth advisor.