Dear Editor,
A newspaper report dated March 3, 2015, stated that both former chairman of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica, Professor Errol Miller and University of the West Indies Professor Trevor Munroe, are of the fervent view that the political parties should reconvene the Vale Royal Talks which were initiated by former Prime Minister Percival Patterson in the 1990s and continued by the Bruce Golding and Portia Simpson Miller-led administrations. I comprehensively agree with the stated viewpoints, and it is of paramount national importance that PM Andrew Holness and Opposition Leader Simpson Miller restart these talks in the next few months.
The talks would allow both party leaders to discuss policies that they can co-operate on and easily get the requisite legislation debated and passed in Parliament. Constitutional issues that would require widespread support from both sides of the Houses of Parliament, specifically, are: term limits for prime ministers, a fixed election date, impeachment law for parliamentarians, the removal of The Queen as head of State, and appointment of a ceremonial president, a referendum to specifically ascertain and determine whether to remove the Judicial Committee Of the Privy Council and the buggery law or not, and the implementation of the campaign financing law.
The Government will undoubtedly require the professional co-operation of the Opposition in passing the various pieces of legislation which come before the House and Senate. Within the framework that the the Government has a one-seat Parliamentary majority in the Lower House, the Government MPs will have to be extremely disciplined in attending the sessions of Parliament and be respectful in their conduct in Parliament. They will now be expected to work professionally in Parliament in the interest of the development of Jamaica. Already, I very much like the overall political tone in the speeches of the two party leaders. I commend them.
The Opposition Leader should take up the invitation from PM Holness to walk the garrison constituencies and show a sense of unity in seeking to dismantle them, for they serve no useful purpose in Jamaica. Garrison constituencies breed crime, political torture, victimisation and poverty. There is the imperative need for garrison constituencies to be torn down. Positive achievements can come from the restarting of the Vale Royal Talks.
As an aside, it is my firm and considered view if you will that Jamaica requires a new Parliament building and there needs to be an upgrading of parliamentary salaries for the prime minister, deputy prime minister, Opposition leader, speaker of the House, deputy speaker, ministers, state ministers, parliamentary secretaries, Members of Parliament. The president of the Senate, deputy Senate president and senators should be paid a yearly salary. Currently all senators receive a $17,000 allowance.
Robert Dalley
Montego Bay, St James
robertdalley@outlook.com
A newspaper report dated March 3, 2015, stated that both former chairman of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica, Professor Errol Miller and University of the West Indies Professor Trevor Munroe, are of the fervent view that the political parties should reconvene the Vale Royal Talks which were initiated by former Prime Minister Percival Patterson in the 1990s and continued by the Bruce Golding and Portia Simpson Miller-led administrations. I comprehensively agree with the stated viewpoints, and it is of paramount national importance that PM Andrew Holness and Opposition Leader Simpson Miller restart these talks in the next few months.
The talks would allow both party leaders to discuss policies that they can co-operate on and easily get the requisite legislation debated and passed in Parliament. Constitutional issues that would require widespread support from both sides of the Houses of Parliament, specifically, are: term limits for prime ministers, a fixed election date, impeachment law for parliamentarians, the removal of The Queen as head of State, and appointment of a ceremonial president, a referendum to specifically ascertain and determine whether to remove the Judicial Committee Of the Privy Council and the buggery law or not, and the implementation of the campaign financing law.
The Government will undoubtedly require the professional co-operation of the Opposition in passing the various pieces of legislation which come before the House and Senate. Within the framework that the the Government has a one-seat Parliamentary majority in the Lower House, the Government MPs will have to be extremely disciplined in attending the sessions of Parliament and be respectful in their conduct in Parliament. They will now be expected to work professionally in Parliament in the interest of the development of Jamaica. Already, I very much like the overall political tone in the speeches of the two party leaders. I commend them.
The Opposition Leader should take up the invitation from PM Holness to walk the garrison constituencies and show a sense of unity in seeking to dismantle them, for they serve no useful purpose in Jamaica. Garrison constituencies breed crime, political torture, victimisation and poverty. There is the imperative need for garrison constituencies to be torn down. Positive achievements can come from the restarting of the Vale Royal Talks.
As an aside, it is my firm and considered view if you will that Jamaica requires a new Parliament building and there needs to be an upgrading of parliamentary salaries for the prime minister, deputy prime minister, Opposition leader, speaker of the House, deputy speaker, ministers, state ministers, parliamentary secretaries, Members of Parliament. The president of the Senate, deputy Senate president and senators should be paid a yearly salary. Currently all senators receive a $17,000 allowance.
Robert Dalley
Montego Bay, St James
robertdalley@outlook.com