Call for improving governance
Published:Tuesday | April 9, 2024 | 12:06 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
The Advocates Network (AN) joins the Jamaica Council of Churches (JCC) in expressing deep concerns about “the direction in which the proceedings of the Parliament have transpired and how matters of a delicate nature have been handled”, as stated in their public statement on March 28.
The AN also joins the call by the JCC, the Jamaica Accountability Meter Portal, the National Integrity Action, Jamaicans for Justice, as well as other civil society organisations, for the Speaker of the House of Representatives to share the legal opinion from the attorney general regarding the tabling of reports.
The JCC’s statement highlights important constitutional and procedural questions that have been raised surrounding the tabling of reports by the auditor general and the Integrity Commission.
The Advocates Network further notes with grave concern the deafening silence from the Constitutional Reform Committee (CRC) about these constitutional questions and other constitutional matters within the CRC’s remit.
Significantly, there is resounding silence on the promised public education programme to prepare Jamaicans for meaningful engagement in the constitutional reform process, and the required referendum, as we move to become a republic.
We call on the CRC to update the nation on these matters. and to expedite the process of public education.
As we look optimistically to a better future, we join the JCC’s president, Bishop Christine Gooden Benguche, in looking forward to “outcomes in the near future that will stem the tide of mistrust of our government and its leaders, as we believe that the high levels of mistrust that exists in our society can only lead to more deviance, disorder and non-compliance. The nation looks forward to the promotion of the common good from the highest political authority in the land, the Parliament”.
ADVOCATES NETWORK