No faith in gov't to deliver on accountability promise, says JAMP

 

By Kimone Witter  

 

 

Executive Director of Jamaica Accountability Meter Portal (JAMP), Jeanette Calder, says she has no faith in the government delivering on the promise of an accountability framework this year, even as she renewed her call for its establishment.

 

Ms. Calder says accountability pledges were made by Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness in 2015 and again in 2023. However, they have largely gone unfulfilled. 

 

Asked what she expected from the government this year, Ms. Calder was blunt: "Nothing." 

 

"It's been 62 years and we haven't seen any real evidence and seriousness of accountability.... The truth is, I've targeted accountability because I know, as did Dr. Holness, it is the master key to development and success on the personal level, on the corporate level, on the national level. And I believe, Neville, that there is power in the hands of the government to provide the accountability measures that's going to be a game changer and it has been withheld for 10 years, actually it has been withheld for 62," argued the JAMP executive director, who was speaking with TVJ's Smile Jamaica hosts Neville Bell and Janella Precius. 

 

Ms. Calder suggested that parliamentary committees, such as the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC) and Public Accounts Committee (PAC) are not doing enough. 

 

"It's not working. They look at the reports, they talk about it and we move on to the next report. If nobody's held to account, no behaviour becomes modified," she stressed.

 

Ms. Calder urged citizens of the country to press the government to implement the accountability framework.

 

In 2023, the government promised to complete a Code of Ethics for Members of Parliament; institute financial penalties for unexcused absences from the House; and obtain written accountability reports highlighting achievements to be reviewed by a special committee of Parliament.

 

It was also promised that Cabinet ministers would provide the public with specific policy, legal, and administrative targets and indicators for each financial year, making their performance publicly accountable and that there would be clear job descriptions for all parliamentarians. 

 

The job descriptions and code of conduct document for parliamentarians was finalised and approved in the Lower House in June 2025.

 

These promised measures followed public criticism over the significant salary increase for public officials. 

 

Ms. Calder has also expressed disappointment that constitutional accountability pledges made in 2015, that included an impeachment clause, have not been realised.