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Wrong priorities continue
2008-02-16 Written by: Ronald Thwaites
The House of Representatives sat for only two hours last Tuesday, and more than a half of that time was spent talking about ourselves and how much we should get as pay and pension and, of course, which political tendency is more corrupt.
The realities outside of Jamaica, which so influence our present and future, have not been fully treated since September last, despite their obvious impact. We are relaxed and even lazy in considering policies which could provoke better results from our existing education budget. We have to wait a year for a parenting policy, but are rushing into abortion and casinos. The way HEART, the Housing Trust, even the over-pressed health system, can operate better on present resources; the urgent (and avoidable) environmental challenges, all are passed over.
Rehearsing alleged misdeeds of the People’s National Party (PNP) in the past will be cold comfort for the many whose fortunes are scarcely impacted by the temporary food subsidy.
On leaking the light bulb report
The Speaker led on this issue and was anxious to establish that the parliamentary staff had no responsibility for the release of the Contractor General’s report before its tabling last Tuesday. So if not from there, then from where? Why did the report not come exclusively and directly from the Parliamentary Commission to the Clerk of the House?
Land divestment
From how the question was staged and the answer given, it seemed that a huge breach of probity had occurred in the sale or lease of government lands. Later in the week, the Minister of Lands acknowledged that there was no illegality in any of the transactions. My concerns on this matter go in a different direction to those about procedure. For instance, did government get a fair value for each parcel? And are the lands being used for productive purposes?
On pensions and salaries
Then began the debate on reducing the pension of Prime Minister Bruce Golding and his successors to two-thirds of the incumbent’s pay. I agree with the principle that the executive and legislature ought not to accord to themselves proportionally more than can be afforded the public sector.
But it was important to learn that the proposal to equate the retired Prime Minister’s pay with that of the current officeholders was originated before 1989 and was not just another instance of what some members were itching to portray as PNP greed. Prime Minister Golding will not follow the recommendations of the Oliver Clarke Committee to establish an independent commission to determine the emoluments of legislators. At least not as far as pay and benefits are concerned. The issue of pay levels would come back to the House for decision anyway, he argued. But what about a comparison with the Electoral Commission, where, although Parliament must vote, the convention is not to vary their proposals? The same principle applies here.
Contributory pensions
The good news coming from the succession of speeches is that government is continuing to pursue the feasibility of a proper contributory pension scheme for all public servants. The current entitlement from the Consolidated Fund plus top ups is unwieldy. From 2000, when there was a Parliamentary Committee on Pension Reform, I held the view that all Jamaican workers should contribute to a recognised pension scheme. There will be significant problems of transition from the old order, as Mr. Golding outlined, but with consensus, these can be overcome. The reform should begin now.
Public Accounts Committee
Since there was not much more to the House proceedings, this week’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting proved far livelier. There is more than $100 million owing to government under a tuition for service scheme run out of the Prime Minister’s office. It was clear that there is little purposeful effort to recover these amounts from the beneficiaries, as guarantors are apparently overlooked and the delinquencies increase. It should not have needed Dr. Davies to make the logical suggestion that the entire programme should be turned over to the Students’ Loan Bureau.
Then there was the return of Mr. Rowe of the Local Government Division, who was supposed to explain a particular allocation from the SESP fund to a staff member’s account.
Everald Warmington properly objected to the inference in the press that a Member of Parliament had originated the transaction. Awkwardly, the issue has yet to be settled. The chairman was constrained to summon the permanent secretary, since the officer present could not assist. It appeared as if the Public Accounts Committee was being trifled with.
In this and other issues which followed, it became clear that public service procedures have to be simplified and vigorously enforced. That is a significant oversight function of the committees of Parliament.
As PAC chairman, Dr. Omar Davies, told director Rowe of Local Government, “Don’t come here, take 40 steps and bowl spin”.
Ronald Thwaites is the opposition Member of Parliament for Central Kingston.
2008-02-16 Written by: Ronald Thwaites
The House of Representatives sat for only two hours last Tuesday, and more than a half of that time was spent talking about ourselves and how much we should get as pay and pension and, of course, which political tendency is more corrupt.
The realities outside of Jamaica, which so influence our present and future, have not been fully treated since September last, despite their obvious impact. We are relaxed and even lazy in considering policies which could provoke better results from our existing education budget. We have to wait a year for a parenting policy, but are rushing into abortion and casinos. The way HEART, the Housing Trust, even the over-pressed health system, can operate better on present resources; the urgent (and avoidable) environmental challenges, all are passed over.
Rehearsing alleged misdeeds of the People’s National Party (PNP) in the past will be cold comfort for the many whose fortunes are scarcely impacted by the temporary food subsidy.
On leaking the light bulb report
The Speaker led on this issue and was anxious to establish that the parliamentary staff had no responsibility for the release of the Contractor General’s report before its tabling last Tuesday. So if not from there, then from where? Why did the report not come exclusively and directly from the Parliamentary Commission to the Clerk of the House?
Land divestment
From how the question was staged and the answer given, it seemed that a huge breach of probity had occurred in the sale or lease of government lands. Later in the week, the Minister of Lands acknowledged that there was no illegality in any of the transactions. My concerns on this matter go in a different direction to those about procedure. For instance, did government get a fair value for each parcel? And are the lands being used for productive purposes?
On pensions and salaries
Then began the debate on reducing the pension of Prime Minister Bruce Golding and his successors to two-thirds of the incumbent’s pay. I agree with the principle that the executive and legislature ought not to accord to themselves proportionally more than can be afforded the public sector.
But it was important to learn that the proposal to equate the retired Prime Minister’s pay with that of the current officeholders was originated before 1989 and was not just another instance of what some members were itching to portray as PNP greed. Prime Minister Golding will not follow the recommendations of the Oliver Clarke Committee to establish an independent commission to determine the emoluments of legislators. At least not as far as pay and benefits are concerned. The issue of pay levels would come back to the House for decision anyway, he argued. But what about a comparison with the Electoral Commission, where, although Parliament must vote, the convention is not to vary their proposals? The same principle applies here.
Contributory pensions
The good news coming from the succession of speeches is that government is continuing to pursue the feasibility of a proper contributory pension scheme for all public servants. The current entitlement from the Consolidated Fund plus top ups is unwieldy. From 2000, when there was a Parliamentary Committee on Pension Reform, I held the view that all Jamaican workers should contribute to a recognised pension scheme. There will be significant problems of transition from the old order, as Mr. Golding outlined, but with consensus, these can be overcome. The reform should begin now.
Public Accounts Committee
Since there was not much more to the House proceedings, this week’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting proved far livelier. There is more than $100 million owing to government under a tuition for service scheme run out of the Prime Minister’s office. It was clear that there is little purposeful effort to recover these amounts from the beneficiaries, as guarantors are apparently overlooked and the delinquencies increase. It should not have needed Dr. Davies to make the logical suggestion that the entire programme should be turned over to the Students’ Loan Bureau.
Then there was the return of Mr. Rowe of the Local Government Division, who was supposed to explain a particular allocation from the SESP fund to a staff member’s account.
Everald Warmington properly objected to the inference in the press that a Member of Parliament had originated the transaction. Awkwardly, the issue has yet to be settled. The chairman was constrained to summon the permanent secretary, since the officer present could not assist. It appeared as if the Public Accounts Committee was being trifled with.
In this and other issues which followed, it became clear that public service procedures have to be simplified and vigorously enforced. That is a significant oversight function of the committees of Parliament.
As PAC chairman, Dr. Omar Davies, told director Rowe of Local Government, “Don’t come here, take 40 steps and bowl spin”.
Ronald Thwaites is the opposition Member of Parliament for Central Kingston.