KINGSTON – The governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) used its majority in Parliament to secure the position of Bruce Golding as prime minister despite the parliamentary Opposition mobilising all its members to remove him.
Following a marathon debate on a motion of no-confidence brought by the People’s National Party (PNP) against Golding, Parliament voted along party lines.
Thirty government members voted against the motion, while 28 members, all from the Opposition, voted for it.
The PNP moved the motion against Golding on Tuesday, three weeks after the prime minister admitted to sanctioning a scheme to engage a United States law firm to lobby the United States government, which had requested that alleged crime boss Christopher Coke be extradited there.
The PNP charged that Golding had still not spoken the truth about the engagement of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips.
The party also said he should be condemned “for his suppression of the truth, which amounted to deception being practised on the Parliament and the people of Jamaica, and which has resulted in continuing damage of Jamaica’s name in the international arena”.
According to the motion, the prime minister’s credibility was irredeemably compromised.
Golding told Parliament on Tuesday that he had accepted responsibility for his actions. “The fate of the resolution is in the members of this House. My fate is in the hands of God,” Golding said.
Golding’s government delayed signing an authority to proceed against Coke, an affiliate of the JLP, for nine months. Golding pointed to a number of factors that have prompted the Government’s course of action.
Peter Bunting, the Opposition spokesman on national security, said Golding’s handling of the matter was a “long-term pantomime” in which he has been a star act. He said the prime minister’s action was tantamount to obstructing justice.
Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller and five others from her benches were strident in their calls for Golding’s head.
Simpson Miller said Golding’s action in sanctioning Manatt, Phelps & Phillips to explore the extradition issue represents “samfie of the calibre that would put our folk hero, Bredda Anancy, to shame”.
“It is an unforgivable violation, which is punishable by resignation,” Simpson Miller said. “We may not win this motion but we know that history will absolve the People’s National Party,” she concluded.
Anthony Hylton, the Opposition spokesman on foreign affairs and foreign trade, said Golding’s actions have compromised his ability to lead CARICOM. Jamaica is due to accept the chairmanship of the 15-nation Caribbean grouping in July.
Clive Mullings, the sole JLP member aside from Golding to contribute to the debate, said the prime minister’s contrition was evidence of the character of a good leader. “It is easy to lay blame, to weigh down on someone who has taken responsibility,” Mullings said.
“When there is leadership that takes responsibility for its actions I have confidence in that,” Mullings said as he criticised the motion as being an unfortunate political contrivance. However, Dean Peart, MP for North West Manchester, said Mullings was singing for his supper. (Jamaica Gleaner)
