Non-executive head of state a bad idea
Published:Thursday | April 28, 2016 | 12:23 PM
THE EDITOR, Sir:
Having read an article in The Sunday Gleaner of April 24, 2016 by writer Gordon Robinson titled 'Swapping white Queen for non-executive monkey', I was spurred to write in support of the position decrying the replacement of the Queen with a non-executive president as head of state.
On April 15, 2016, I posted on social media, inter alia, the following:
1. Why a non-executive president and not an executive president?
2. The replacement of the monarchy with an executive presidency will eliminate the recurrent expenditure (reported to be almost $200m).
3. The property on which the governor general resides should be made available to developers for houses for young professionals.
I will go further and state that the replacement of the monarchy with a non-executive president would be retaining the same ceremonial functions of the governor general and scars of colonialism.
My hope is that the Opposition does not agree with the replacement as a trade-off with the Government to adopt the Caribbean Court of Justice as our court of last resort.
As one of the remaining vestiges of colonialism, I am in agreement that the office be abolished and the matter be put to the people to decide the type of presidency, non-executive versus executive.
I am a bit disappointed that the announcement is not generating greater discussion among the Jamaican people.
N.W. MUNOZ