JAMAICA | Mark Golding calls for the Resignation of the Justice Minister and the Attorney General

KINGSTON, Jamaica. April 21, 2024: The Opposition People's National Party (PNP) is calling for the immediate resignations of both the Attorney General and the Minister of Justice, in light of the Government’s confused response to last Friday‘s Constitutional Court ruling declaring that the legislation to extend tenure of the former Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Ms. Paula Llewellyn beyond September 2023 is unconstitutional and void. 

A statement from Opposition Leader Mark Golding said “our objective is to ensure that the nation avoids the impending constitutional crisis that could arise should there be no acting DPP in place by Monday morning.”

Mr. Golding said said  the continuation of Ms. Llewellyn in her post beyond her lawful term is not only unconstitutional but also a grave misstep in governance.

“If the Government adamantly insists on the former DPP continuing to purport to hold that office, her actions would not be validated by law, which would plunge the country into a deeper crisis,” Mr. Golding emphasized.

“Furthermore, the current absence of a Public Service Commission (PSC), whose term was negligently allowed to expire on March 31, 2024 without a new PSC being put in place to ensure seamless public administration, is a significant oversight by the government that could hinder ongoing public services, including the critical appointment of an acting DPP.

The Opposition Leader said “it is clear that the public statements made by the Attorney General Dr. Derrick McKoy and the Minister of Delroy Chuck in the wake of the Court's decision, represent either a profound misunderstanding or deliberate obfuscation of the law as expressed in the judgement of the Constitutional Court. Their actions have fatally undermined their credibility as holders of those important offices.”

The People’s National Party leader said he was calling for the immediate resignations of both the Attorney General and the Minister of Justice and urged the administration to consider the gravity of this situation and act in the best interest of Jamaica’s democratic principles and legal statutes.

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