KINGSTON, Jamaica — The House of Representatives’ Internal and External Committee yesterday began reviewing a motion moved by Government backbencher Raymond Pryce, member of Parliament for North East St Elizabeth, in 2013, to regulate civil society/lobby groups.

The committee, chaired by Opposition spokesman on national security, Derrick Smith, is looking at Pryce’s motion which suggests that: “Parliament determine the appropriateness and need for legislation that will, at the very least, require civil society groups, special interest groups and lobby groups — in keeping with emerging global financial and ethical requirements — to vouchsafe and protect Jamaica’s democracy from any such compromise as could be caused by unknown or tainted funds or hidden agendas.”

Smith said that despite advertisements for submissions, the committee had only received one such copy up to yesterday, from the Jamaica Coalition for a Healthy Society.

He said that the committee will resume advertising in the media for submissions this weekend, and will meet next on July 30, to continue its review of the motion and the responses.

Balford Henry