Government ministers support introduction of job descriptions

 

Government ministers are showing support for the introduction of job descriptions for Members of Parliament and Cabinet Ministers.

 

The job descriptions were tabled in the House of Representatives on Tuesday by Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

 

Speaking at a post-Cabinet press briefing Wednesday morning, Labour and Social Security Minister Pearnel Charles Jr. said the tabling of the job descriptions is a step towards improving accountability among public officials.

 

"It will help somebody who is looking on to know if they want to get into it. It will help the person who is involved in the job to know exactly, in a written way, what they are being held accountable for. And I think thirdly and most importantly, for the citizens that we serve, it will allow them to have a better understanding of what the parameters of this awesome responsibility is, and perhaps, I’m hoping it would allow for us to focus our attention on those relevant matters within the job description," he said. 

 

Industry Minister Senator Aubyn Hill echoed the importance of accountability to good governance. 

 

"We’re at the place now where we are saying to the nation, in Parliament, which is where we must go, this is what we’re looking at to hold ministers accountable," he suggested, adding that the job description will be accompanied by a code of conduct. 

 

The nine-page job description for government ministers outlines a number of requirements and deliverables.

 

Ministers have 25 main areas of responsibility, which include attending Cabinet meetings, coordinating and providing policy and strategic leadership of their portfolios.

 

Cabinet ministers also have to get feedback from experts on areas within their portfolios, provide reports to Parliament, pilot legislation and carry out any other duties assigned by the Prime Minister.