A meeting of the Sessional Select Committee of Parliament on Internal and External Affairs failed to get off the ground yesterday after none of the 11 members, save for Chairman Derrick Smith, showed.

Smith, who waited patiently in the chamber until 10:45, had no choice but to apologise to members of the media, informing them that the meeting, scheduled for 10:00 am, was being postponed as he did not have a quorum. There was no mention of apologies for absence either.

The chairman said yesterday’s meeting would have served to set the agenda for the way forward for other meetings of the committee, as well as to highlight matters of concern members might have.

The Jamaica Observer was told that at least one government committee member, Arnaldo Brown, was off the island on Government business.

The committee also comprises Government members Damion Crawford, Mikael Phillips, Denise Daley, Winston Green, Dr Lynvale Bloomfield, Hugh Buchanan, and the Opposition’s Delroy Chuck, Desmond Mair and Dr Andrew Wheatley.

The Internal and External Affairs Committee is charged with examining treaties and other international agreements and advising Parliament on their likely impact on the country.

On Tuesday, another committee meeting was affected by low attendance, triggering a request that members declare their interest in serving.

Of the 11 members of the Sessional Select Committee on Human Resources and Social Development, only five showed, inclusive of the committee Chairman Rudyard ‘Ruddy’ Spencer.

There were, however, only two apologies for absence from the Opposition’s Olivia Grange and the Government’s Anthony Hylton.

Tuesday’s meeting would have been the committee’s first since the start of this parliamentary year in April.

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

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