Elizabeth Morgan | The new shadow cabinet – what is the role of the foreign ministry?

In the government of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), there is the ministerial portfolio of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. Looking at the new shadow cabinet of the People’s National Party (PNP), it led me to reflect on the role of the foreign ministry and whether it is appropriately located in their subject categories in the list of Shadow Ministerial assignments. I noted that the shadow minister of the now portfolio, Foreign and Regional Affairs, is under the subject heading ‘transparent and accountable governance’.

WHAT IS A SHADOW CABINET?

In the Westminster parliamentary model, the shadow cabinet is composed of senior members of the principal opposition party appointed by the leader of the Opposition to be spokespeople on specific policy issues mirroring the portfolios of the current government. Note that the leader of the Opposition is a post enshrined in Jamaica’s Constitution. The role of these Opposition spokespeople is to critique the policies/positions/actions of the Government and to set out the policies/positions which will be followed by them, if and when they form the Government. The shadow cabinet should reflect a government in waiting. From the shadow cabinet, the public should have a fairly clear idea of the policies and positions which will be implemented by the Opposition as Government, as they have considered the issues and formulated policies and positions which will be in their manifesto. These spokespeople are the men and women who might be appointed to ministerial posts. This means that they should have good knowledge of the issues in their portfolio and be aware of current developments. In some small countries like Jamaica, this can be a challenging task if there isn’t a support team and the resources for research.

In the PNP’s new shadow cabinet, it seems that all the work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade will be within the portfolio of Angela Brown Burke as spokesperson for Foreign and Regional Affairs. I am recalling now that a junior shadow cabinet was appointed last November with Christopher Henry assigned to Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. I assume the Opposition leader will ensure that these portfolios are in sync. So, there should be a team effort.

In my opinion, it is misleading in the PNP’s new shadow cabinet subject listings for Foreign and Regional Affairs to be located under the subject heading ‘Transparent and Accountable Governance’. I think that it should have been listed separately, at the top, with the leader of the Opposition and Defence, as should the portfolio for Finance and Public Service, possibly Justice too, as they are overarching/crosscutting in responsibilities/effect.

ROLE OF THE FOREIGN MINISTRY

The foreign ministry is crosscutting as it is responsible for formulating, coordinating, and implementing the country’s foreign policy, which is linked to the national development policy, and includes foreign trade policy as well as its consular and diaspora policies, among others. The foreign policy relates to the diplomatic (including protocol matters), economic, social, and cultural relationships with other countries at the bilateral level. Jamaica has diplomatic relations with over 175 countries.

It also relates to the multilateral level which includes relationships with and within multilateral organisations, such as the United Nations and its Specialized Agencies, the World Trade Organization, the Organization of American States, the Commonwealth, the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States, and many others, including their regional and interest groups. Relationships extend to the hemispheric, regional and sub-regional levels. The reference to regional affairs by the Opposition, I assume, relates to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

In its daily operations, the foreign ministry is responsible for official visits, meetings whether as host or attending, articulating positions/policies, securing technical and development assistance, trade and investment promotion, intelligence gathering, dispute resolution, advocacy/lobbying, welfare and humanitarian issues, negotiating various international agreements, signing such agreements when required, and candidacy for posts, among other things. Coordinating and mainstreaming are critical in executing the functions of the foreign ministry as its work is linked to that of almost every government ministry, department and agency.

The foreign ministry carries out its mandate through its capital-based headquarters with its various divisions and departments, and its embassies, permanent missions, and consulates in several countries across the world, staffed by civil servants of the Foreign Service and political appointees, who quite often are heads of mission.

TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

At the national level, the foreign ministry should be transparent accountable to the people of Jamaica through the Parliament like any other Government ministry, department and agency. The ministry should be reporting to Parliament through participation in debates, in the relevant committees, responding to questions, and submitting reports through ministry papers. I am not aware that there is a properly constituted committee in Jamaica’s Parliament that regularly considers specific issues within this ministry’s portfolio.

This matter of transparency and accountability, for me, raises questions about the effective functioning of Parliament and not so much about the work and responsibilities of the foreign ministry and its minister. The proper functioning of Parliament should actually be addressed in Jamaica’s Constitutional Reform process.

The media also has a role in reporting, with knowledge and understanding, on the work of the ministry and participating in its press briefings. The media is often found to ignore substantive issues, focusing only on the sensational or topical.

It would be interesting to hear from the leader of the Opposition and his spokesperson on the thinking behind their creation of this portfolio on Foreign and Regional Affairs, its positioning and the approach to coverage. As an aside, I also note that Industry (manufacturing) and Commerce do not appear in this new senior shadow cabinet. I am curious about the intended treatment of these subjects which are significant contributors to GDP.

Elizabeth Morgan is a specialist in international trade policy and international politics. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com.