Andrew Holness: Will he stay or will he step down as Jamaica’s Opposition Leader

Members of Jamaica’s opposition party – the Jamaica Labor Party (JLP), are meeting Monday to decide on the fate of their leader – former prime minister, Andrew Holness, following his loss in the Appeals Court earlier last week.

The emergency meeting was called by Leader of Opposition Business in the House, Derick Smith, who has indicated that he will pledge his support for Holness.

Jamaica’s Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal by Holness in the Senate seat saga and made it abundantly clear that Senators Arthur Williams and Christopher Tufton did not resign in 2013 and must retake their positions in the Senate.

Shortly after the court ruling, there were resignations from the opposition’s Shadow Cabinet, and there have been calls for Holness to step down as leader of the JLP.

The Jamaica Labor Party was thrown into turmoil in February month when the Constitutional Court ruled that Holness had acted unconstitutionally when he used undated, unsigned resignation letters to oust Tufton and Williams from the Senate whilst he (Holness) was still prime minister.

There are reports that the party is divided on what is to become of the Opposition Leader. Several heated meetings have been held within the party to determine his fate.

Meanwhile, Senators Williams and Tufton have retaken their seats in the Upper House.