Holness calls for referendum

KINGSTON – Jamaica’s Opposition Leader Andrew Holness has suggested that the government resolve a number of key issues by allowing the people to decide in a “grand referendum’ next year.
Holness suggested to Prime Minister Portia Simpson that she could remove the  uncertainties” surrounding a number of social issues – the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as Jamaica’s final appeal court; liberalisation of ganja laws; review of the buggery law; and having the Queen of England as the head of State – by way of a “grand referendum” in 2015.
“There is an election due sometime next year; why not make arrangements to have a grand referendum at that time. It would be cost-effective and would certainly settle all these thorny issues and, at the same time, answer the questions where are we going on the social issues,” Holness told Parliament on Thursday.
“Madam Prime Minister, if you truly believe in people power, let the people decide. Let us have a grand referendum,” Holness pleaded. (Observer)