The Advocates Network (AN) is heartened by the positive feedback received following our protest last Tuesday, June 30.

We believe it is essential to clarify our position. Our actions are born of a deep-seated desire for our country to operate by good governance and transparency. We must rebuild trust through accountability, and the protection of our fundamental human rights based on the Charter of Rights.

In this moment, as we navigate this challenging period in our nation’s history, we wish to highlight three critical areas that demand immediate government attention:

First, the Third Country Nationals (TCN) agreement. It defies logic that our government would commit to receiving expelled nationals from the United States while we are still in the throes of recovery from a major disaster. As concerning is the lack of transparency; this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was finalised without a presentation or discussion in Parliament or the Senate.

The MOU must be made public if the Government is to begin to regain the trust and confidence of the people. Since it is already signed, there is no justification to wait until the negotiation of details is complete. Having been left out of the pre-signing consultation, at a minimum the people’s view must be taken into consideration during the negotiation of the details phase.

Second, the erosion of integrity and accountability. We are witnessing a pattern where standards are consistently being disregarded by senior government officials. When civil society and private sector bodies raise these concerns, our calls for accountability are frequently met with hostility. The government must recognise that we are not adversaries, but critical partners in the essential work of building a stronger, more robust democracy.

Finally, we must see a sincere commitment to constitutional reform. This is not a matter for closed-door politics. We believe the first necessary step is to establish a bipartisan committee chaired by an apolitical civil society leader with constitutional expertise. This process must be open, transparent, and driven by wide-ranging public consultation and debate.

Jamaica deserves a government that listens, accounts for its actions, and values the voices of its people. We remain committed to these principles and invite our fellow citizens to join us in demanding a higher standard of leadership.

Another protester saying no to third country nationals during a protest last Tuesday. (Photo: Karl Mclarty)

Nora Blake

The Advocates Network

Feedback: advocatesnet@gmail.com