Release From the Advocacy Network - Editor's Comments

 The following is a Press Release from the Advocacy Network:      

 

 

The Advocates Network (AN) Joins call for IMPROVING GOVERNANCE

 

Kingston, Jamaica, Wednesday, April 3, 2024. The Advocates Network (AN) joins the Jamaica Council of Churches (JCC) in expressing deep concerns about “the direction in which the proceedings of the Parliament have transpired and how matters of a delicate nature have been handled,” as stated in their public statement on March 28, 2024. The AN also joins the call by the JCC, the Jamaica Accountability Meter Portal (JAMP) and the National Integrity Action (NIA), Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) as well as other civil society organizations for the Speaker of the House of Representatives to share the legal opinion from the Attorney General regarding the tabling of reports.

 

The JCC’s statement highlights important constitutional and procedural questions that have been raised surrounding the tabling of reports by the Auditor General (AuG) and the Integrity Commission (IC). The Advocates Network further notes with grave concern the deafening silence from the Constitutional Reform Committee (CRC) about these constitutional questions and other constitutional matters within the CRC’s remit. Significantly, there is resounding silence on the promised public education programme to prepare Jamaicans for meaningful engagement in the constitutional reform process and the required referendum as we move to become a Republic. We call on the CRC to update the nation on these matters and to expedite the process of public education.

             

As we look optimistically to a better future, we join the JCC’s President, Bishop Christine GoodenBenguche, in looking forward to: “outcomes in the near future that will stem the tide of mistrust of our government and its leaders, as we believe that the high levels of mistrust that exists in our society can only lead to more deviance, disorder and non-compliance. The nation looks forward to the promotion of the common good from the highest political authority in the land, the Parliament.”

 

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 POSTSCRIPT

The AN is a non-partisan alliance of individuals and organizations advocating for human rights and good governance to improve the socio-economic conditions of the people of Jamaica and transform lives. We actively encourage citizen participation in addressing the structural issues of inequality, injustice, discrimination, abuse, violence, corruption, and other social problems that have persisted from our history of slavery/colonization and contributed to human rights abuses and poor governance in Jamaica.  

 

Editor's Note:

I have spoken to a few persons about the House Speaker's ruling regarding the tabling of documents in parliament. Some people can give a political position based on their party of choice but not au fait with the issues. These numerous releases and statements by civic leaders are confusing the discussions.

This Advocacy Network(AN) release starts off by saying that AN joins with other organizations.... The public would like to know what are the concerns. The release should state the directions that concern AN.

The legal opinion is not all that matters. We need to know if the current system is one which we should maintain or if it needs to be changed.

A meeting between the AN and the Speaker of the House should help NA to give us a clearer understanding of what is happening. AN could provide leadership by making its own recommendations.

We need less noise and more explanations. The AN could take on the responsibility of educating the people about changes which could improve our constitution. AN could recommend that all students should be exposed to civics in schools. If the students are exposed to civics we would end up with a society which appreciates this discussion about our constitution and our parliament.

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