There was no sitting of the House of Representatives this past week.  With four ministers away in China and the unpredictable Pearnel in charge of the government, there must have been the anxiety that had there been a sitting and the Opposition turned up in full, there could be no majority and trouble in store.

So the public’s business went a-begging but the administration would never admit that.  Unless they initiate the motion, it is usually thought of as having scant significance anyway, so overweening is their own hubris.

Gambling

Of course, the Select Committee on Casino Gambling had its meeting.  This issue is considered of supreme importance by the government and the committee continues its dispute as to who should reap more of the spoils of the suckers who gamble, apparently without a thought as to the destruction of character and true economy, which the practice embodies.

Regretfully, the Opposition seems to be going along with the process without having thought through its own position on the proliferation of gaming.  It was Michael Manley who reminded us that we could not win our troubles away.  Has that changed?

Parliament has energy and time for games of chance but cannot yet muster up the courage to apply our minds to the chronic decline of productivity and the corrosive consequences of idleness and hopelessness.

Budget process

This is the time of year when the Taxation Committee of Parliament should be in full swing.  I doubt if it has ever met.  Although it makes little sense to increase taxes in a declining economy, the shortfall of revenue raises the question as to how government can continue to run without collecting more.

Must we just assume that the “borrowing” from the recently pliant Bank of Jamaica would continue?  And when you add up the figures of all that must be paid out of the IMF balance of payments money and the collateral concessionary funding, there is a large gap, which remains during the next fiscal year.

This issue needs to be discussed by responsible leaders before new Estimates of Expenditure are tabled in March.  Remember the lack of realism of the last two budgets!

Resolutions

I hold the view that particularly when money is short, social legislation can achieve important  advances for public welfare.  It is to this end that I have entered the following resolutions into the Parliament but have yet to secure time or cooperation to debate them.  They are set out in this medium so that the public, which never sees an Order Paper can be aware of the unfinished business while the hecklers have their day.

NOTICE GIVEN ON  FEBRUARY 10, 2009

BE IT RESOLVED that this Honorable House debate the desirability and modalities of an extension of the National Insurance Scheme to provide a National Health Insurance Scheme.

BE IT RESOLVED that the Government instruct the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica to supply petroleum products directly to retailers without the intermediation of the petroleum marketing companies;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the reported margins of the petroleum marketing companies be allocated to a special dedicated fund for the maintenance of the nation’s roads.

BE IT RESOLVED that this Honorable House urgently debate the measures required to get Jamaica out of debt and establish a timetable for achieving same.

WHEREAS there are thousands of workers losing their jobs in Jamaica adding to the already high levels of the under-employed and the unemployed.

AND WHEREAS given the fragility of traditional sources of foreign exchange earnings due to largely external conditions;

AND WHEREAS the stimulation of local production for import substitution, local consumption and also export are essential to stimulate the Jamaican economy from recession to growth so as to provide employment for many;

AND WHEREAS the productive use of land is the most practical and economical resources available to the nation;

AND WHEREAS Government has indicted that an inventory of publicly owned lands is being prepared;

AND WHEREAS there are large tracts of unused arable lands in private hands;

AND WHEREAS rapid agricultural development especially of food supplies will ease the urban and inner city crises:

BE IT RESOLVED that this Honorable House urgently debate strategies for:

1. Making unused land available to redundant workers;

2. Encouraging the return to productive use of all idle lands;

3. Setting production targets for all agricultural commodities and developing plans for inputs of technology, infrastructure and credit to support these targets;

4. Using all available channels to persuade Jamaican that is by the productive use of land and labour that our nation will prosper and our social fabric be restored.

NOTICE GIVEN ON TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2009

BE IT RESOLVED that Government urgently bring forward for debate a comprehensive reform policy for metropolitan transport such as to reduce financial haemorrhage by the Jamaica Urban Transit Company.

BE IT RESOLVED that every member of this Honorable House declare in this Chamber his or her citizenship or permanent residency in any country other than Jamaica.

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, as a matter of urgency, the Honorable House debate under what, if any circumstances citizens with dual nationality ought to be excluded from Parliamentary membership.

NOTICE GIVEN ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2009

BE IT RESOLVED that this Honorable House debate the cost of remediation in the public education system and treat with ways in which this can be reduced.

BE IT RESOLVED that this Honorable House debate the adequacy and affordability of loan financing for students in the Jamaican tertiary education system.

NOTICE GIVEN  ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2009

WHEREAS the livelihood of residents of Central Kingston is adversely affected by the polluted state of the Kingston Harbour;

AND WHEREAS there is leeching of effluent into the western harbour from the Riverton Dump, which affects marine life and ecology in the entire harbour;

BE IT RESOLVED that the city dump be removed from Riverton and relocated where it will have no adverse environmental impact on city dwellers.

BE IT RESOLVED that the local fish-farming industry be encouraged so as to enhance local protein intake and reduce fish imports.

NOTICE GIVEN  ON TUESDAY,  NOVEMBER 3, 2009

BE IT RESOLVED that this Honorable House review the policies governing the relationship between the Churches in Jamaica and the State with respect to the sponsoring and support of education with a view to advancing the involvement and influence of religious organizations in expanding educational opportunity and improving quality.

WHEREAS  it is desirable to ensure accountability for the maintenance of public infrastructure:

BE IT RESOLVED that the National Works Agency delineate clearly what roads and civil works fall under its jurisdiction;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that only the National Works Agency in respect of such roads and works and the Local Authorities in respect of all secondary, parochial and farm roads, be the only agencies entitled to carry out maintenance, improvements, additions and repair works and more specifically;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the electricity, water, sewage, telecommunications and other utilities have no authority to interfere with roads and works and are obliged to pay for the right to locate equipment on, in or under the public roadways.

BE IT RESOLVED that the Government of Jamaica abolish the popularly described “Act Policy” for motor vehicle insurance:

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the law be amended to provide for mandatory driver re-education as a penalty for breaching of the Road Traffic Act;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Government introduce a revised and comprehensive programme of driver certification. as soon as possible with procedures for licensing of instructors.

NOTICE GIVEN   ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2010

WHEREAS  the Environment Levy was intended for specific programmatic alleviation of the scourge of non-biodegradable materials;

AND WHEREAS the Environmental Levy has been used as a subsidy for solid waste disposal:

BE IT RESOLVED by this Honorable House that the subsidy obtained under the Environmental Levy be allocated solely for the original purpose, namely, for programmes, which will reduce non-biodegradable material;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that adequate separate budgetary allocations be made for solid waste disposal.

WHEREAS there is an unacceptably high level of road accidents and fatalities:

BE IT RESOLVED that the Government immediately introduce legislation and regulations to:
(i)    Improve the level of training for drivers of all classes of motor vehicles;

(ii)    Provide for mandatory retesting of all drivers every ten years; and

(iii)    Introduce compulsory re-education programmes for all drivers convicted of careless/dangerous driving as a condition for renewal of all licence;

AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all of these measures be undertaken at the expense of applicants.

BE IT RESOLVED THAT SECTIONS 3(2), 4(A) AND (B) of the Noise Abatement Act be amended to allow events to extend to 1:00 a.m. between Sunday to Thursday and 3:00 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Next week, I will report on the Resolutions moved by other members so the public can assess the thought and intent of their representatives.

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Reverend Ronnie Thwaites is an attorney at law and Member of Parliament for Central Kingston