At today’s first sitting of Parliament following the summer recess, the Speaker of the House used her opening remarks to criticise Leader of the Opposition Mark Golding over comments he made during the recess about her refusal to allow him to table a Private Member’s Bill in July. 

Golding sought to respond in the House immediately afterwards but was not permitted to do so. He was instead advised that he could speak during public business, which, given the number of matters on today’s Order Paper, is not expected to be reached until very late in the sitting. Golding has therefore chosen to respond by way of this video.

Golding, a former Minister of Justice, is looking to table a Bill entitled the Crown Lands Reform Act, which is designed to bring about important reforms to increase land ownership and justice in Jamaica. However, his attempt was blocked by the Speaker of the House, Juliet Holness, who deemed the move unconstitutional. 

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