Warmington: I'm not being mischievous

BY ALICIA DUNKLEY Senior staff reporter dunkleya@jamaicaobserver.com

Thursday, February 09, 2012

OPPOSITION Member of Parliament Everald Warmington has defended his actions in bringing motions questioning the operations of several state bodies insisting that they are brought without malice.

"When I bring a Private Member's Motion having to do with any Act of Parliament or any particular area of governance, it doesn't mean I am attacking that office or the holder of the office," Warmington, the Jamaica Labour Party representative for South West St Catherine, told Parliament Tuesday.

He made the statement during debate on a motion he brought urging Parliament to consider whether there is still need for a Political Ombudsman, arguing that the original mandate of that office has already been met. In recent times he has drawn the ire of many for questioning the salaries of the commissioners who sit on the Electoral Commission of Jamaica.

But, according to Warmington, his stance was not to be seen as mischievous but more on the grounds of reason and economics. Furthermore the MP has argued that he has at no time said the office had not performed.

"The intent to establish a Political Ombudsman in the 80s or 90s was well founded given the politics we had in those days. Jamaica has evolved and I am not sure the extent by which this office has outlived the remit. The last two or three elections are testament to the evolution or maturity of Jamaican politics and if we have reached the stage where we can be mature enough to govern ourselves in appropriate fashion," the outspoken MP argued.

"I don't believe there is any need for the taxpayers to be called upon to spend some $18.6 million annually to maintain an office that has become redundant. Most of the functions of that office are not incorporated by the Electoral Commission of Jamaica," he pointed out.

"Where the Ombudsman is concerned, I have not said that office has not done a good job what I have said is that it has outlived its usefulness and if a position or office has fulfilled whatever task was given, why keep that office going?" he asked.

He is pressing for a revision with a view to determining the relevance of the office to the existing political structure; whether the expenditure of the office is justified and whether in light of the creation of the embodiment of the functions of the electoral process in a commission, the Office of the Political Ombudsman should be declared redundant and the Act establishing it repealed.

The Office of the Political Ombudsman is currently held by Bishop Herro Blair. Tuesday, in outlining the expenditure on the office, Warmington pointed out that Blair himself is paid a basic salary of over $3.5 million (before a seven per cent increase which was added after the last budget), housing allowance of over $1.1 million per year, entertainment allowance of $71,070 per year, domestic allowance of $50,000, leave passage allowance of $326,922, security allowance of $21,000 and library allowance of $143,140.

"We must spend taxpayer's money responsibly. What justification is there for us to be spending all this money for an office that in my view has become redundant. Why should we spend $18.6 million for an office that all it did in the last elections was to say take down those flags (political paraphernalia) in those communities but yet all the flags are still standing?" he wanted to know.

The Office of Political Ombudsman was established in 2002. Blair was reappointed to the post in 2009. The role of the Political Ombudsman is to conduct investigations into complaints relating to party political issues and to perform other functions in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

Blair, in December last year ahead of the general election, voiced similar sentiments to those raised by the MP.

"By the time the next election comes around, I don't think there will be need for us to continue with an ombudsman. It would appear as if our politicians are mature to the point where they can deal with the situations. We are getting there, we are not there yet, but I believe within five to seven years this should be the case," Blair told the Observer in an interview then.

Government MP for St Catherine North Western Robert 'Bobby' Pickersgill, commenting on the issue, pointed out that there was no provision in the Memorandum of Objects and Reasons accompanying the Bill which spoke to a time for the abolition of the office of the political ombudsman.

Debate on the motion is expected to continue next week.

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Warmington: I'm not being mischievous