Dear Editor,
If the recent incident serves to enlighten members of parliament, ministers of government, and the judges in the courts on how the poor black in Jamaica are treated to enforce law and order, Mario Dean would not have died in vain. It is from them that Mario expected protection for his personal security and the rest of us are waiting on them for peace in the nation.
To our shock and horror we have come to realise that the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), the principal agent of the State entrusted to enforce the rule of law and protect us against crime and violence, is itself now involved in what it was sworn to prevent. The media is constantly reporting allegations of corruption and extrajudicial killings by the police that worsen the lawlessness in the society.
Cleaning up the police force is a must as part of any plan to uphold the rule of law for peace to prevail.
It must be recognised, however, that in the fight against crime the JCF is seriously handicapped by the unfriendly society in which it operates (not without reason); the frequent tragic events in which the police are involved generate unconcealed hostility towards them, making their job so much harder while the minister of security waits for divine intervention.
It is no secret that underfunding is common among most, if not all, of the agencies of the State with responsibility for citizens' rights and welfare; this frustrates efforts for peace and prosperity as the ultimate objective for government.
Limited resources are used to maintain too many public bodies. Central Government with 20 ministers and departments run the country, sharing administration with 14 local governments
In addition, there are 191 active public bodies, 6 commissions of parliament and innumerable consultants partaking in managing a country of less than 3 million people but still not getting it right.
The present practice where the Cabinet is appointed from the Senate and the House creates the danger from serving two masters with a conflict of interests in the administration. The mingling of legislative responsibility with the executive functions is a recipe for mismanagement, which may end in a "corruption of conscience" where a sense of right and wrong is compromised. It is painful to hear about ministers telling their party supporters how they utilise governmental policy to ensure a return to office at an election. It is time for a change.
Earlier suggestions for prohibiting the people's representatives from executive functions have resurfaced and merit renewed consideration. Appointment of ministers should not be from among the elected members; instead, all should be from the Senate.
Immediate financial benefit is savings from reducing the size of the Cabinet to 13. The most important benefit will undoubtedly be the improvement and the strengthening of efficiency in performance by public officials. The proposal allows the members of parliament to give undivided attention to their primary, solemn and supreme obligation to represent the people in a democracy.
When our leaders are unaware or reluctant to make the changes for good governance, too many of our people are waiting too long for the protection of their security and deliverance from poverty.
Frank M Phipps QC, OJ
Kingston
frank.phipps@yahoo.com
Waiting for godot
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If the recent incident serves to enlighten members of parliament, ministers of government, and the judges in the courts on how the poor black in Jamaica are treated to enforce law and order, Mario Dean would not have died in vain. It is from them that Mario expected protection for his personal security and the rest of us are waiting on them for peace in the nation.
To our shock and horror we have come to realise that the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), the principal agent of the State entrusted to enforce the rule of law and protect us against crime and violence, is itself now involved in what it was sworn to prevent. The media is constantly reporting allegations of corruption and extrajudicial killings by the police that worsen the lawlessness in the society.
Cleaning up the police force is a must as part of any plan to uphold the rule of law for peace to prevail.
It must be recognised, however, that in the fight against crime the JCF is seriously handicapped by the unfriendly society in which it operates (not without reason); the frequent tragic events in which the police are involved generate unconcealed hostility towards them, making their job so much harder while the minister of security waits for divine intervention.
It is no secret that underfunding is common among most, if not all, of the agencies of the State with responsibility for citizens' rights and welfare; this frustrates efforts for peace and prosperity as the ultimate objective for government.
Limited resources are used to maintain too many public bodies. Central Government with 20 ministers and departments run the country, sharing administration with 14 local governments
In addition, there are 191 active public bodies, 6 commissions of parliament and innumerable consultants partaking in managing a country of less than 3 million people but still not getting it right.
The present practice where the Cabinet is appointed from the Senate and the House creates the danger from serving two masters with a conflict of interests in the administration. The mingling of legislative responsibility with the executive functions is a recipe for mismanagement, which may end in a "corruption of conscience" where a sense of right and wrong is compromised. It is painful to hear about ministers telling their party supporters how they utilise governmental policy to ensure a return to office at an election. It is time for a change.
Earlier suggestions for prohibiting the people's representatives from executive functions have resurfaced and merit renewed consideration. Appointment of ministers should not be from among the elected members; instead, all should be from the Senate.
Immediate financial benefit is savings from reducing the size of the Cabinet to 13. The most important benefit will undoubtedly be the improvement and the strengthening of efficiency in performance by public officials. The proposal allows the members of parliament to give undivided attention to their primary, solemn and supreme obligation to represent the people in a democracy.
When our leaders are unaware or reluctant to make the changes for good governance, too many of our people are waiting too long for the protection of their security and deliverance from poverty.
Frank M Phipps QC, OJ
Kingston
frank.phipps@yahoo.com
Waiting for godot
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