Speaker of the House of Representatives Juliet Holness
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Mickel Jackson, Executive Director, Jamaicans for Justice, and JCTU President St. Patrice Ennis
Lobby group Jamaicans for Justice has expressed concern about the decision of House Speaker Juliet Holness to meet with Auditor General Pamela Munroe Ellis in relation to reports sent to the Houses of Parliament for tabling.
Executive Director of Jamaicans for Justice Mickel Jackson says such conversation should not be entertained, "because I think we have to ensure that there is not a perception or any intention whatsoever that may seek to undermine the constitutional authority of the Auditor General."
She said even if the meeting turns out to be a mere formality, JFJ has strong reservations concerning "whether or not that particular meeting should be held."
Withdraw letter
There is also mounting pressure on House Speaker Juliet Holness to withdraw the letter to Clerk to the Houses of Parliament, Valrie Curtis, accusing her of dereliction of duty regarding the handling of Auditor General reports.
President of the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions St. Patrice Ennis declared on Tuesday that the House Speaker has set a dangerous precedent which should not be allowed to stand.
Mr Ennis, also speaking on Beyond the Headlines, said the Speaker has no authority to reprimand the Clerk to the Houses of Parliament, and that, by her action, she has created unease among some public sector workers in various ministries.
He reported that he had picked up "loud chatter within the public sector" - with public servants asking "which direction; what sort of precedent we are establishing."
"This is something we do not believe can be allowed to stand, because it is a dangerous precedent," he declared, adding, "I can't recall seeing anything like this before."
"That authority is not vested within the Speaker," he concluded.
The parliamentary opposition has also called for the Speaker to withdraw the controversial letter of reprimand sent to the Clerk, Valrie Curtis.
Mickel Jackson believes Speaker Holness should not only withdraw the letter but issue a public apology to the Clerk, because "even if the Speaker had the authority to do it, why is that letter in the public domain?"
She's worried that "the moment we start having certain civil servants subjected to the political directorate is the moment we start seeing the undermining of good governance."
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