Former Prime Minister PJ Patterson has voiced his strong opposition to any change in the law that would allow a ceremonial president under a republican state to be chosen by a simple majority of both Houses of Parliament.

He spoke on the issue at a People’s National Party symposium series -Learning from History to Navigate Tomorrow – held last evening in St James.

Mr. Patterson said the country does not want a ceremonial head of state who is a puppet for the Prime Minister.

The Constitution Amendment Republic Act 2024 was tabled in the House of Representatives  in December.

It seeks to  abolish the constitutional monarchy and transition Jamaica to a republic.

A joint select committee is reviewing the bill.

The Opposition has paused its participation on the committee saying the government is approaching the reform process in a piecemeal fashion.

It wants the issue of  access to justice to be addressed first, with Jamaica transitioning from the British Monarch’s court. 

Commenting on the issue of the final court of appeal, Mr Patterson said the country’s former leaders accepted that the final court would not be the Privy Council.