Separating ministers from MPs being considered under constitutional reform

 

As the Constitutional Reform Committee deliberates on moving the country to a republic, consideration is being given to separating the role of Minister of Government from that of Member of Parliament.

 

Under the current bicameral system of government, ministers are drawn from both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

 

Dr. David Henry, a member of the Constitutional Reform Committee, suggests that there should be a separation or at least a limiting of the number of parliamentarians who should be ministers of government to eliminate the division of attention that now obtains. 

 

In furthering the argument, Dr. Henry cited a 1994 memorandum written by late former Prime Minister Michael Manley, which stated that: "Ideally, members should be able to concentrate virtually full time on one job or the other." Mr. Manley further suggested it is important that whoever performs either or both functions should be the direct product of the electoral process, meaning the person should be directly elected. 

 

Dr. Henry also shared concerns about what he called a prime ministerial dictatorship under Jamaica's current parliamentary system. 

 

"I'm not speaking of a particular prime minister, I'm speaking of a role. The executive is controlled by the Prime Minister and so is the Parliament. And so therefore, anything can happen, in a sense, within certain limits," he argued.

 

"These are the kinds of things I think that as a people, we need to think through and ask ourselves, based on our history and what we have experienced, what is it that we want to ensure accountability and transparency, and that we get a true republic which is government by the people, for the people," he proposed. 

 

 

The Constitutional Reform Committee said it is discussing the issue of Jamaican nationals residing overseas being granted the right to vote in local elections.

 

Dr. Henry said a framework for Jamaicans residing overseas to participate in the country's electoral process is being given serious consideration. 

 

"Presently under our constitution, a Commonwealth citizen is entitled to vote in our elections. And a Commonwealth citizen can include somebody from very far away who is not necessarily Jamaican. And so we are looking at that right now. We are favouring a position where Jamaicans can vote. However, there has to be a certain residential requirement. They'd have to be in the country for a certain period of time. And certainly, if you want to be in the Parliament and represent the country, you ought to live here for a certain period of time," he declared. 

 

Dr. Henry was speaking Wednesday during a town hall meeting in Portland.