WITH EDWARD Seaga stepping down as Opposition Leader after over thirty years at the helm, the appointment of a successor is being viewed as a watershed moment in Jamaica's history.
Mr. Seaga's resignation as Member of Parliament for west Kingston, and Leader of Opposition by extension, becomes effective next Wednesday. Constitutional scholars, however, note that there are several procedures involved in appointing a new Opposition Leader.
Yesterday, attorney-at-law Headley Cunningham, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, said the process, as outlined in the Constitution (section 80), is fairly simple.
Section 80 says:
"Whenever the Governor-General has occasion to appoint a Leader of the Opposition he shall, in his discretion, appoint the member of the House of Representatives who, in his judgement, is best able to command the support of a majority of those members who do not support the Government..."
ONE OF THEIR NUMBERS
Explaining the process, Mr. Cunningham said: "When there's a vacancy for Leader of the Opposition, the Constitution provides for the Opposition Members of Parliament to gather among themselves and choose one of their numbers."
Having done so, the Opposition MPs advise the Governor-General of the person who most enjoys their support.
"He (Governor-General) then invites the nominee and appoints him or her as
Leader of the Opposition," Mr. Cunningham stated.
The former House Speaker told The Gleaner that a ceremony is not necessarily held to announce the appointment.
O.A.
