THE usual high standard of debate in the Senate has been suffering recently from what appears to be a breakdown in communication between the leadership of both sides of the upper house.

This was quite clear in how the debate on the crucial amendments to the Maintenance Act was handled.

And it now seems to be the case with the amendments to Criminal Justice Administration (Amendment) bill, and the companion amendments to the Legal Aid Act, covering the treatment of mentally deficient persons in the justice system.

On Thursday, Attorney General and Minister of Justice AJ Nicholson attempted to pilot the bill through the Senate but, after his opening contribution, Leader of Opposition Business Senator Anthony Johnson made it clear that the opposition was not prepared to contribute due to the absence of Senator Dorothy Lightbourne, the JLP’s spokesperson on legal matters.

Lightbourne’s absence from the sitting had been communicated earlier to the Leader of Government Business.

Senator Johnson: Last week the Opposition had stated that it would not be in a position to respond, or to participate, this week because of the inability of the person charged with that responsibility to be present.

We further made the point that no reason had been given for us to meet today, as opposed to tomorrow, and that everyone made their arrangements to be here tomorrow.

He proposed to go ahead any way. So we are here out of respect, but we do not propose to proceed any further, until the responsible officer is available, in the normal time.

Senator Nicholson: We will have contributions from this side. But am I to understand that the Senate is to be at the beckon call of persons when they are available?

Now look, I am not saying that today I will necessarily close the debate on this bill. I will accommodate who is called the responsible officer. But, I still want to know whether we in the Senate must be hostage to persons when they are available to contribute to debates?

The issue arose again after Senator Nicholson asked that the debate be suspended with the stipulation that, “persons from the Opposition who are here today can’t come next week and say that they want to speak on this bill.”

Senator Nicholson: You asked for an adjournment because your one person who is supposed to speak on the bill is not here today, but you want to come next week and have a full-fledged debate. Well, let us see what happens next week. You see this bill was tabled on, let’s see, notice of second reading was given on the 28th of July this year and here it is now, it’s 12 o’clock and we are going to ask for the adjournment.

Well, we can treat legislation how we wish to treat it. We can treat the precious time of the Senate, the precious time that is allotted to each of us, we can treat it how we want to treat it, but the people are watching. It is in those circumstances that I move that the debate be suspended.

Senator Johnson rose again at the closing of the sitting, but senator Nicholson asked the Acting President Navel Clark about the adjournment.

Senator Johnson: Well, since there is a motion for the adjournment and I rise, I ask you to recall that this side said that it could not be ready by this Thursday.

Senator Clarke: We cannot have a debate, you have already mentioned that very fact and we took note of it. We can’t have a debate on it.

Senator Johnson: The point is that (Senator Nicholson) has made several remarks and I haven’t chosen to interrupt him. Indeed, he has accused us of attempting to waste the time of the Senate. The fact of the matter is that he is the one who is wasting the time of the Senate.

You are completely out of order and I am not going to sit down here and let you attempt to browbeat me, or browbeat anybody.

Senator Clarke: Senators please. Senator Johnson, we note your statement but this is not a matter on the motion for the adjournment.

Senator Johnson: The matter is that when I spoke to the Attorney General yesterday he said yes, he would not close, and he comes today as if to say that we are acting in an improper manner which I regard as childish.

balfordh@jamaicaobserver.com