AN OVERWHELMING majority of Jamaicans believe that term limits must be introduced for prime ministers and members of parliament (MPs), while a significant number believe that elected officials should serve no more than two terms in office. THE FINDINGS were tallied in the latest Don Anderson poll, revealing that 77.1 per cent of Jamaicans believe that the number of times a person running the country is allowed to seek re-election should be capped. In comparison, 18.2 per cent said that there should be no restrictions, while 4.7 per cent said they were not sure or did not have an opinion. Further, 54.6 per cent of those interested in term limits want the person elected as prime minister to serve no more than two terms, 25.8 per cent would allow a third term, 9.5 per cent said ‘one term only’, 6.8 per cent said ‘more than three terms’, while 3.3 per cent said that they were unsure or did not know. For members of parliament, 72 per cent of Jamaicans polled want legislation enacted to limit their time in Gordon House. Some 22.8 per cent believe that the current system should remain unchanged, while 5.1 per cent said that they were not sure or formed no opinion. Of those who called for term limits, 48.2 per cent said MPs should serve for no more than two terms and 30.2 per cent said three terms are sufficient. One term for MPs was supported by 9.5 per cent of those polled, while 9.2 per cent said they would allow the legislator to serve more than three terms. Just under three per cent (2.9%) said they were not sure or didn’t have an opinion. A total of 1,010 Jamaicans of voting age participated in the RJRGLEANER Communications Group-commissioned survey, which has a sampling error of plus or minus three per cent at the 95 per cent confidence level. Participants from all parishes were interviewed between August 30 and September 14, with approximately 25 per cent being randomly called back as part of fieldwork validation. The Government did not respond to The Gleaner’s request for comment regarding its current position on term limits, while the Opposition declined comment. CHIEF JUSTICE Bryan Sykes, in sentencing convicted gang leader Andre ‘Blackman’ Bryan on Monday to 39 years and six months in prison, said it was clear from the evidence that he was the “prime mover and shaker” behind all the gang’s killings. The judge noted that the evidence presented showed that no major incidents – “certainly no murder, shootings or arson” – took place without Bryan’s approval and planning. Additionally, he said there was no hesitation on the part of the gangsters to use violence to further the ends of the criminal organisation. Bryan was found to be the leader of the One Don Gang, a splinter of the Clansman Gang. The judge further noted that the members were aware that they were participating in a gang and did nothing to suggest that they wanted to leave the gang or turn their life around. The day’s sentencing exercise started out with Bryan, who briefly delayed the proceedings after he indicated, through his lawyer, that he had a medical issue. The 38-year-old musician, who was earlier observed pumping and clutching his chest and appeared to be experiencing some discomfort, was removed from the dock but returned soon after. Bryan, who last week publicly admitted to being the leader, was given 21 years and six months for leadership of a criminal organisation. He was also sentenced to 11 and a half years each for facilitating the commission of murder and arson in relation to the shooting death of a couple in Fisheries, St Catherine. He was also slapped with 10 and 12 years, respectively, for facilitating the commission of conspiracy of murder and murder by a criminal organisation in connection with the shooting death of a man called ‘Outlaw’. The judge also sentenced the gang leader to six and a half years for facilitating the gang’s commission of murder in relation to the killing of ‘Doolie’ on Chancery Street in St Andrew, and another six and a half years for facilitating the murder of a Rastafarian man, and four and a half years for the murder of an unknown person. Justice Sykes ruled that the sentences for the leadership and for Outlaw’s murder are to run consecutively, while the others are to run at the same time as the prisoner term for leading the gang. Bryan’s sentences were all reduced by five and a half years for time spent in custody since before his trial, starting in September 2021. Bryan’s cousin, Tomrick Taylor, was also sentenced to nine years and six months for being a member of the gang. Four other convicts – Michael Whitely, Brian Morris, Dylon McLean and Lamar Simpson – were also sentenced Monday. Whitely, a 25-year-old chef, was sentenced to 16 years for being a member and for his role in the murder of a Rastaman in Jones Avenue, St Catherine. Morris, who was the lead shooter in that same incident, was sentenced to of 18 months and six months, respectively, for being a member and for his role in the shooting. McLean, who was among a group of gangsters armed with Molotov cocktails and guns before the killing of the couple and torching of their house at Fisheries, St Catherine, was ordered to serve seven years and three months for being part of a criminal organisation and two counts of facilitating the commission of a serious offence by such an organisation Simpson was sentenced to one year and six months for being a member of a criminal organisation. The judge found that on the evidence he was only involved in an unsuccessful search for a murder target and had good social enquiry and community reports. Nine convicts are left to be sentenced. Thirty-three defendants were initially hauled before the court, 17 were freed and one was killed. tanesha.mundle@gleanerjm.com THE MONTHLY GLEANER | OCTOBER 5 - NOVEMBER 4, 2023 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS 5 BROTHER ARNOLD DIVINE MESSENGER – SPIRITUAL ADVISOR Have truth and trust in Love. Riddance yourself of Dark, Heavy unhappiness. Gain favor in Court/Immigration, Family, Health & Fertility, Career/Schooling matters Call: 929.233.8564 ANSWERS BY DIVINE PROVIDENCE Public says PMs, MPs should only serve twice – poll Sykes: ‘Blackman’ was force behind reign of terror THE GOVERNMENT on Tuesday halted a 179 per cent increase in the stipend for senators, announcing that a new basis for determining adjustments is to be finalised. The proposed increase in the stipend, which would have moved payments per sitting from $53,000 to $148,000, was outlined in a letter from the Clerk to the Houses of Parliament Valrie Curtis. In a statement on Tuesday, Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke said the increase will not be implemented. He said that he has directed that the letter dated September 14, 2023, be rescinded. Clarke said that the correspondence from the clerk followed from a Cabinet decision of 2008 that automatically indexed the stipend of the senators to the highest fee paid for service as a board director of a public body. He said immediately prior to this 2008 decision, senators were being paid $1,000 per meeting and the highest public body board fee was $6,000 per meeting. The highest board fee outlined was $74,000, according to Curtis’ letter, which was addressed to President of the Senate Tom Tavares-Finson. It was copied to Leader of Government Business Kamina Johnson Smith and Leader of Opposition Business Peter Bunting. Clarke said that when public body board fees were last increased in 2019, Senate stipends were automatically adjusted as per the 2008 Cabinet decision and these took effect on April 1, 2020. The decision comes four months after the political directorate raked in huge salary increases, with compensation to members of parliament and Cabinet ministers surging past 200 per cent. The Government has been hammered for months over the hike, which it said was important to incentivise performance. On Tuesday, the Opposition objected to the announced increase for senators and called for a review. Gov’t puts massive hike in senators’ stipend on hold Dr Nigel Clarke, Minister of Finance and the Public Service
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