(Jamaica Observer) Leaders of Government and Opposi-tion Business in both Houses of Parliament yesterday buried the hatchet, presenting a unified front to the media for the co-operation they said would be the hallmark of the new Parliament.
The historic press conference, held after the opening ceremony for the new session of Parliament and the swearing in of members, was addressed by new leader of government business in the House of Representatives Phillip Paulwell, his counterpart leader of opposition business Delroy Chuck, leader of government business in the Senate AJ Nicholson and his counterpart leader of opposition business Arthur Williams.
Paulwell, in acknowledging that debates in times past have been known to get downright rowdy with bitter exchanges, said he has been mandated by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller to “use the Parliament to strive for greater national unity, stability, order and decorum”.
“Whilst we accept and we want to encourage the usual cut and thrust of robust debate, the objective is going to finally be to inform our people and advance the various principles Government and Opposition are elected to do; and we definitely are going to strive to lessen the type of heat that sometimes is associated with the conduct of our parliamentary behaviour,” Paulwell told journalists. The administration, he said, would not be using its 42-21 majority to out-muscle the Opposition unfairly either. “We are pledging as a Government that has a substantial majority that there will be no oppression of the minority by the majority. We are going to be working very closely in keeping with a fundamental principle that we have abided by under the Progressive Agenda, that of participation, accountability and responsibility. In that regard, we are going to work towards a lot more consultation between Government and Opposition and in that regard ministers are going to facilitate regular dialogue sessions with the counterpart shadow cabinet ministers,” Paulwell said.
He said as part of the new approach there will be discussions on how to build greater public interest and greater public participation in the conduct of the Parliament, as well as greater marketing of its meeting schedules and agenda items.
“One of the things we want to do in this our jubilee year is to do a survey of our young Jamaicans to unearth from them what are some of the innovations we can incorporate using technology and so on to pique their interest,” Paulwell said.
Former House Speaker Chuck said while it was certain that the debates would get stormy at times, there was a level of decorum that must be maintained.
“There can be no doubt that in our parliamentary system of government you are going to get some heat. Where I believe parliamentarians fall out of line is where they go on and on without recognising that having made your point, you must shut up; and so often too many parliamentarians feel they must provoke, provoke and be discourteous and that is something I believe the House Leader and myself will try to temper, so that when we come to Parliament we can make our presentations,” Chuck said.
“Certainly, we would want to see a fair amount of debate on all the Bills that come to Parliament. We are happy the Government has decided to continue having the committees chaired by Opposition members. We are going to be a constructive Opposition. It can certainly, for the rest of this parliamentary year, be a robust Parliament,” he added.
Senator Nicholson, in his remarks, said the standard of debate must be lifted.
“For us in the Senate, we acknowledge and understand that this is jubilee year, it is the 50th year of our status as an independent country. This means, therefore, that the Senate should be guided thereby; the senators must understand that it cannot be business as usual. This is a defining moment,” Nicholson said. “The People’s National Party did not get the opportunity to lead Jamaica into Independence. The PNP Government now has an opportunity to lay the platform for the next 50 years. The PNP Government cannot do it alone, it has to be done with the assistance, co-operation and help of the Opposition,” he pointed out.
Senator Nicholson, who had shared a somewhat antagonistic relationship with former leader of government business in the Upper House Senator Dorothy Lightbourne when his party formed the Opposition, expressed satisfaction with the selection of Williams as leader of opposition business.
“I am more than pleased that Senator Arthur Williams is the leader of opposition business in the Senate, because if truth be told, there were some grating moments during the last Senate. We acknowledge it, and I expect my colleague to acknowledge it also.
We have already pledged to each other that we are going to work together for the good of Jamaica. There has to be debate, there has to be criticism, but there doesn’t have to be rudeness. There doesn’t have to be disrespect. We intend to be exemplars… we will play our part and we want you as members of the media to hold our feet to the fire. We are up to the task,” Senator Nicholson said.
