Resume Parliament to do what?
August 16, 2009
READERS OF The Gavel have been clamouring for us to call for a resumption of the sitting of Parliament. This was long before the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) called for an immediate resumption of parliamentary sittings.
Truth be told, we began penning that piece last week and abandoned it. We are just not convinced that a resumption of Parliament would advance the cause of the Jamaican people one inch.
We have found little evidence, at least not in recent times, of any great degree of seriousness and commitment to the country's affairs by elected members of parliament (Mps).
The Gavel has been at pains to point out that this Parliament has been operating without a clear legislative agenda. We challenge the House to proudly hold up a list of its achievement since members took their seat in September 2007.
Some people have the impression that The Gavel is clobbering the Bruce Golding government, but we remind readers that the composition of the House is 32-28 and, therefore, the failure or success of the Parliament is collective.
Nearly two years into the life of this Parliament, the Order Paper continues to be saturated with unfinished business with seemingly little effort to reduce the pile-up. Similarly, the legislative accomplishments are nothing to smile about. Aside from a plethora of run-of-the-mill amendments, there are few revolutionary pieces of legislation of which this new Parliament can boast....
Author: Tyrone Reid
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
