MEMBERS of the Sessional Select Committee on Human Resources and Social Development are to be asked to declare their hand early in the game.

The decision was taken yesterday at what was the first meeting of the committee since the start of the Parliamentary year in April this year. Of the 11 members, only five showed up, inclusive of the Committee Chairman Rudyard Spencer. There were, however, only two apologies for absence, from the Opposition’s Olivia Grange and the Government’s Anthony Hylton.

Spencer, at the outset, had noted that the period would be “very active and busy” for the committee. It was, however, Government Committee Member Dr Dayton Campbell who brought the suggestion for members to state their intent where working in the committee was concerned.

“Chair, you said it already but I want to put it on record that some form of communication be made to the House leader in reference to members of the committee, whether or not they can actually serve on this committee and whether or not we need to have new members joining because we can’t continue operating in this way where when we come here only a select few come to the meetings,” Campbell said.

“Some form of communication has to be put in place as to whether or not those members are committed to serve, and if they are not then we can invite new members to be a part of the committee,” he added.

Spencer, in noting the suggestion, said while it was the first meeting of the committee, past experience which has seen meetings being cancelled for lack of quorum had taught that such a move might very well be necessary.

“It’s worthwhile making that suggestion because too often a number of persons don’t come to the meetings and we just have to depend on a few, so I think it would be in order to communicate with both leaders of the House to see what they can do, if anything,” he said.

With the agreement of Government committee members Hugh Buchanan and Denise Daley and Opposition member Shahine Robinson secured, Spencer said “it will be done”.

In the meantime, the committee is to consider and report on the Public Health Tobacco Control Regulations 2013 under the Health Act which was laid out in the House of Representatives on July 30.

“Quite a storm has been raised in the media about the Tobacco Act and it’s left to us to at least look at it, tidy it up if needs be, and report to Parliament. We have to decide how we are going to move forward with this but I would like this to be finished within the next two sittings,” Spencer told the Committee yesterday.

Several entities have also requested that they be allowed to make presentations to the committee including marketer and distributor of cigarettes and tobacco-related products in Jamaica, Carreras. The committee is to begin those hearings next week.

The committee has also been mandated to urgently examine the adequacy and affordability of funding tertiary education in Jamaica and report to the House on its findings and recommendations.