Jamaica’s Parliament will launch a new official website by May 2026, House Speaker Juliet Holness has announced, describing the initiative as a key step in modernising the legislature and strengthening transparency and public access to its work.

Holness, who was speaking during the first sitting of the House of Representatives for the new parliamentary year on Thursday, said the procurement of a web developer has already been completed and that development of the platform is now in progress, with completion anticipated within the current financial year.

“We have also advanced modernisation efforts through the procurement of a web developer’s new parliamentary website. This completion is anticipated to be around May 2026 of this year,” Holness said in a statement at the start of the new legislative session.

She framed the project as part of a broader technological overhaul aimed at improving how Parliament functions and how citizens engage with it.

“Our integration of technology must improve, and it will, as this initiative forms a greater part of the broader commitment of transparency and accessibility,” she said.

The announcement comes weeks after Opposition Leader Mark Golding criticised Parliament’s legislative record-keeping, describing aspects of it as “chaka-chaka” and calling for greater organisation and clarity in the way laws and proceedings are documented and presented to the public.

While Holness did not directly reference Golding’s comments, her emphasis on digital reform signals an acknowledgement that Parliament must improve how it communicates its work.

The urgency of the upgrade is underscored by findings from the Jamaica Council of Persons with Disabilities, which assessed the Parliament building and its digital platforms.

Holness disclosed that while 65 per cent of the building’s physical features met accessibility standards, the institution’s web accessibility score stood at just 11 per cent.

“These are not abstract issues, they affect safety, efficiency, and the overall working environment of this institution,” she said.

Beyond the website, the Speaker outlined a series of reforms intended to strengthen Parliament’s administrative backbone. Among them is the introduction of the MyHR Plus system, which, she said, will go live before the end of the financial year.

“This platform modernises our human resource management processes, streamlines administrative functions, and improves efficiency and accountability within the institution,” Holness stated.

She noted that under the old system, delays in processing retirement benefits had created frustration for former employees, adding that the new platform is expected to eliminate such bottlenecks.

The digital push comes amid broader institutional challenges. According to Holness, Parliament continues to operate within an ageing building that faces electrical, plumbing, and space constraints, alongside staffing shortages that affect operational capacity.

She added that the Administration is actively advocating additional personnel to better support members in their legislative and representative roles.

As the new legislative year begins, Holness urged members to approach their duties with discipline and respect.

“As we begin this legislative year, I urge all members to uphold the highest standards of decorum and discipline. Adherence to the Standing Orders is fundamental. They are not obstacles to debate. They are the safeguards that ensure fairness, order, and respect within the chamber,” she said.