Holness' statements on chief justice appointment today key - JFJ

Jamaicans For Justice (JFJ) says what Prime Minister Andrew Holness says at the swearing-in of Justice Bryan Sykes as chief justice today will be key in determining how the country moves on from the controversy over the appointment.

Justice Sykes was appointed on February 1 to act in the clear vacancy created by the retirement of Chief Justice Zaila McCalla on January 31.

However, there has been contention that the constitution does not contemplate the appointment of an acting chief justice, except in cases of emergency. 

Prime Minister Andrew Holness yesterday relented to public pressure to appoint justice Sykes announcing that he is to be sworn-in at King’s House at 9 o’clock this morning.

However, Executive Director at JFJ, Rodje Malcolm, points out that the question of whether it was constitutional for Holness to have appointed Justice Sykes to act in the post remains unresolved.

He says Jamaicans should pay keen attention to the statements made by Holness today, in relation to why he is now appointing Justice Sykes fully to the post.