Set a limit on the Cabinet size

Dear Editor,

While prime ministers have the prerogative to appoint ministers, those appointments should not be made on the basis of political reward.

The modern thinking behind the structure of government is to have a smaller, more efficient and cost-effective operation which includes a combining of ministries, transfer of portfolio responsibilities, mergers, and privatisation of some government entities.

Entrenching the size of the Cabinet in the constitution would be a huge stride forward for governance.

There is a growing consensus among politicians that decreasing the number of ministers will harm the effectiveness of government. However, decisions on the number of ministers should be made on the basis of need, especially at this time when the Government plans to call upon Jamaicans to make the sacrifice required to stabilise the economy.

There is a growing consensus among politicians that decreasing the number of ministers will harm the effectiveness of government. However, decisions on the number of ministers should be made on the basis of need, especially at this time when the Government plans to call upon Jamaicans to make the sacrifice required to stabilise the economy.

In the United Kingdom, there are limits set to the number of ministers that can be appointed.

The Jamaican Constitution, however, only limits the number of senators who can serve as ministers in the Cabinet.

It is time for constitutional limitations to be set on the number of parliamentarians who can be appointed to the executive.

Andrew King

Kingston

Set a limit on the Cabinet size

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