Gov’t, Opposition agree to meet Monday after Parliament ruckus
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Opposition Leader of Government Business Phillip Paulwell has agreed to meet with Government representatives on Monday, following Tuesday’s heated confrontation in the House of Representatives, which involved exchanges of profanity and allegations of misconduct.
Responding to an invitation from House Speaker Juliet Holness, Paulwell welcomed the proposed meeting but expressed concern and disappointment over the tone of her letter.
Citing what he described as deep-rooted distrust in Parliament, Paulwell said it could only be overcome if everyone recognises the essential role the Opposition plays in preserving democracy.
“Our role in holding the Government to account and ensuring transparency must be strengthened, not weakened,” Paulwell noted.
He criticised the Speaker’s approach to Parliament, accusing her of contributing to division in the House and being partial to the Jamaica Labour Party Government, citing Tuesday’s conflict as an example.
“When the stakes are highest, you have used the powers of the Speaker to secure the partisan interests of the Government, and that is absolutely antithetical to the principles and traditions of your office. The most recent glaring example of this was last Tuesday, when you entertained and sought to give effect to a motion brought by the House leader to abruptly and peremptorily shut down the debate on the Opposition’s censure motion against the Government, despite the interests of the minority clearly requiring that motion to be fully debated and then closed in the normal way,” he said.
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Paulwell expressed hope that Monday’s meeting would be “a frank and constructive dialogue among equals, and not an occasion for admonishment”.
He maintained that it could ultimately be necessary to involve the prime minister and the leader of the Opposition or even an independent mediator or wider group of stakeholders to secure a lasting resolution.
