Tweet
Former JLP caretakers/MPs to serve in Senate
Published: Saturday | January 14, 2012 4 Comments
OPPOSITION LEADER Andrew Holness yesterday gave the clearest indication yet that he intends to name rejected politicians as senators.
"I a do not subscribe to that school," Holness said yesterday when asked about his position on a school of thought which says people who face the electorate and lost should not be imposed on the country by way of the Senate.
"We want to have a strong Senate, first and foremost. Now that the Government has a two-thirds majority in Parliament, you would have heard me say the Opposition must be the watchdog of our democracy," Holness said.
He added: "The Senate that will emerge on Monday, when we announce the opposition senators, will be one that is strong, one that is faithful to the principles of our democracy, and one that represents the future of the Jamaica Labour Party."
Three ministers in the last Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) administration failed to retain their seats in the December 29 general election. They are Robert Montague (Western St Mary), Dr Christopher Tufton (South West St Elizabeth) and Clive Mullings (West Central St James).
Senators Dennis Meadows (North Trelawny), Marlene Malahoo Forte (Central Westmoreland) and Dwight Nelson (South East St Andrew), who was national security minister, failed to gain election to the Parliament.
The Opposition will have eight members in the Senate while the Government will have 13.