Seaga

KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC):

Former Opposition Leader Edward Seaga has publicly disagreed with the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) plan to introduce a fixed election date if it takes over the reins of government after the August 27 election.

The former JLP leader said he has never supported the principle because it would be harmful to the country's electoral process.

"There are a number of things that a fixed election date would do that would be deleterious to the system.

"For one thing, with the fixed election date you would not be able to change a government by a vote of no confidence if the government or the Prime Minister himself is behaving in a manner that the country just wouldn't want to have him around for whatever period is left in the timetable," he said, during a radio interview.

JLP leader Bruce Golding last Sunday promised that if his party formed the next government, it would within 100 days introduce legislation for a fixed election date.

He said this would eliminate what he believes is the ability of the Prime Minister to manipulate the system for selfish purposes.

Seaga disagreed, saying the present system is more beneficial because it facilitates the removal of a corrupt or unacceptable government.

He also suggested that such a move would require a tedious, unfeasible process in Parliament.

"The fixed election date would have to be passed by two-thirds majority in each House and by referendum, so it's not just a matter of within a hundred days you can do this," Seaga added.