JFJ urges good governance considerations in new term

Ahead of the start of the new parliamentary term, one civil society group is urging the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) to revisit the Bruce Golding model of allowing opposition members to chair sessional select committees.

Mickel Jackson, executive director of Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ), says the chairing of sessional select committees by the Opposition would enhance oversight and accountability, noting that this was a welcomed best practice under the Bruce Golding administration of 2007 that served the country well for a decade.

At the beginning of his second term in office, Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness reversed the chairmanship of sessional committees to allow government members to chair those committees. The Public Accounts Committee and the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee remained under the chairmanship of opposition members.

Arguing that the move to change the Golding doctrine was regressive, Jackson said her organisation “supports and actively calls for the reintroduction of this parliamentary best practice, as it promotes robust accountability and oversight, ensures bipartisan scrutiny, and strengthens public trust in governance processes”.

She also urged the parliamentary opposition to engage in constructive dialogue, prioritising evidence-based scrutiny over partisanship.

On the issue of proposed amendments to the Integrity Commission Act, JFJ is asking lawmakers on both sides of the parliamentary divide to reconsider a recommendation it made to amend the Integrity Commission Act, drawing on practices from jurisdictions like New Zealand and Australia.

“We advocate for the amendment or repeal of Section 53(3), the ‘gag clause’, without seeking blanket public disclosure, proposing limited statements (e.g., for witnesses or to dispel disinformation) to enhance investigations,” Jackson said.

BIPARTISAN SUPPORT

She also reminded lawmakers that the confidentiality clause (section 56) was raised in the previous parliamentary term and there was bipartisan support in making necessary amendments there, so the list of contracts awarded could be divulged by the Integrity Commission (IC). Jackson said she hopes bipartisan support remains on this issue.

In light of the prime minister exercising his personal right to a judicial review of an IC investigative report into his income and assets, while calling for critical sections of the Corruption Prevention Act to be struck as unconstitutional, JFJ is urging civil society and citizens to watch closely to ensure the Government exercises independence from Holness in his personal capacity, safeguarding the anti-corruption framework.

“We must be vigilant in ensuring the anti-corruption framework is strengthened, not weakened. Tied to this is the importance of reviewing the constitutional concerns around the unexplained wealth order through robust engagement with varying actors; proposals for addressing conflict of interest and anti-bribery,” Jackson added.

editorial@gleanerjm.com