KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – The Jamaican public will be allowed to provide feedback on the job descriptions for Members of Parliament (MP) with the first of a series of town hall meetings scheduled for Sunday, September 24.
The Joint Parliamentary Select Committee decided on the series of town hall meetings across the island on Tuesday when the members met to discuss Green Paper No. 3 regarding a Job Description for Members of Parliament of Jamaica.
Agriculture, Fisheries, and Mining Minister Floyd Green, also a Committee Member, said it was essential to get the public’s view on what they believe the role of an MP should be.
“Because, ultimately, they judge, they decide. So, they really should play a part in telling us what they’re looking for, whether it is that, for example, MPs need more autonomy about resources or less autonomy about resources,” Green said.
Jamaicans will also be allowed to send written submissions to the Committee.
On June 20 this year, Prime Minister Andrew Holness tabled in Parliament job descriptions for parliamentarians in the form of a Green Paper and for Ministers in the form of a White Paper.
He told legislators that these would set out the posts’ strategic objectives, purpose, reporting and accountability, key deliverables and responsibility areas, performance standards, competencies, contacts, and working conditions.
“In proposing a job description, we are not suggesting anything new or outside our laws and Constitution. However, few people have a full appreciation of what the appointment requires. It is hoped that this job description will help members of the public better appreciate and understand the roles and responsibilities of Ministers and Members of Parliament,” he added.
Holness noted that good governance also means holding parliamentarians and ministers to the highest standard of conduct.
“We will prepare, discuss, agree, and implement Codes of Conduct for parliamentarians and ministers. It has been more than 20 years since the country turned its attention to a formal declaration of the conduct of Ministers in Ministry Paper No. 19/2002,” he stated.
The Prime Minister said, in that Paper, that the country was invited to accept the United Kingdom Nolan Committee Report’s proposal of the seven principles of public life: Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty, and Leadership.
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