Mitchell: Holness Gov’t Being Damaged by Court Losses

Former president of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica, PSOJ, Howard Mitchell, says the Holness administration is being damaged by its repeated loss of several constitutional challenges.

Mr. Mitchell was reacting to Friday’s ruling by the Constitutional Court that struck down an amendment that allowed Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, Paula Llewelyn, to elect to stay in office beyond her 63rd birthday.

Daina Davy has more in this report.

Howard Mitchell says the court ruling that the Holness administration acted unlawfully in granting the DPP the second extension, is a major blow to Prime Minister Andrew Holness and the JLP-led government.

The landmark judgement was handed down by Justices Sonya Wint Blair, Simone Wolfe Reece, and Tricia Hutchinson Shelly on Friday.

They said the extension, which effectively granted the country’s chief prosecutor a second extension of her tenure, was unconstitutional, null, void and of no legal effect.

Mr. Mitchell says the government’s losing record on constitutional matters is eroding the JLP’s political base and overall standing.

Justice minister, Delroy Chuck, says the government will be appealing the ruling. But PNP president Mark Golding, says the opposition is also prepared to take the matter to the Privy Council if required.

Mr. Mitchell says with an election upcoming, the government cannot afford another major blow.