EDITORIAL - Cynical Mr Golding

Prime Minister Bruce Golding and the government's top legal adviser, Ms Dorothy Lightbourne, have made much of their fealty to, and respect for, the Jamaican constitution, including the rights, protections and privileges it affords the country's citizens and the obligations it demands of them.

Indeed, it is for these reasons, they contend, that this administration dithered, dodged and, some will claim, prevaricated for nine months before signing the authority for extradition proceedings to start against Christopher Coke, who was wanted for trial in the United States for drug- and gunrunning.

Ms Lightbourne is now giving evidence in this matter at the commission of enquiry into whether the government corruptly manipulated the Coke extradition.

The essence of the government's argument is that it mattered not that Coke was an influential supporter of the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), operating from the heartland of JLP street power, Tivoli Gardens, and had notoriety as an underworld boss.

Principle is principle

After all principle is just that ... principle. And everyone is entitled to the rights afforded by the fundamental law.

The flip of that, of course, is that they are bound by its obligations.

That leads us to Tuesday's resignation by Mr Everald Warmington as the parliamentary representative for South West St Catherine and Mr Golding's comment and explanation of its timing.

By the way, Mr Warmington will contest the seat again for the JLP in a by-election on April 4.

Mr Warmington's resignation and the by-election, which he will win, are to regularise his status as a member of the House of Representatives where, until this week, he illegally occupied a seat.

He was in breach of section 40 (2) (a) of the Constitution that prohibits membership of the legislature to anyone who "is by virtue of his own act, under any acknowledgement of allegiance, obedience or adherence to a foreign power or state", except that state is a Commonwealth country. Agree or not, that is the law.

Mr Warmington was a United States citizen. He is the fifth JLP member of the House to have resigned under similar circumstances to face by-elections.

Mr Golding is unabashed that "we have been aware of the status for some time", but that political expediency trumped the constitution.

No-confidence motion

Said Mr Golding:"Let's be practical here, we have a majority of four in the house. If five were to depart the House at any particular point in time simultaneously, under the rules of Parliament a certain number of members can convene the House and pass a no-confidence motion and cause the government to collapse. That is something you do not want to invite."

We believe that there are other more palatable ways that this might have been avoided, rather than having to await a "resolution of all the issues" four years into the life of the administration, during which there were court fights by some of the members to hang on.

Mr Golding's remark suggests a cynicism that is antithetical of constitutional order and good governance. Mr Golding and his party are not alone on this score.

There are two Opposition People's National Party (PNP) MPs who have been similarly challenged, one of whom we believe to be shameless and unseemly in attempting to hold the seat, and another who, by the coincidence of timing, may have a legal point to pursue.

The PNP must clean up its act.

The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner. To respond to a Gleaner editorial, email us: editor@gleanerjm.com or fax: 922-6223. Responses should be no longer than 400 words. Not all responses will be published.