MP office overhaul

The time has come for Jamaica to explore an overhaul of the office of member of parliament (MP), which should include providing them with additional taxpayer-funded resources to help with national development, the country’s two main political parties have suggested.

There are 63 elected MPs in the Lower House of the Jamaican Parliament.

Dr Horace Chang, a five-term MP for St James North West and general secretary of the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), disclosed during a Gleaner Editors’ Forum that, at present, MPs get a driver “who is underpaid” and a secretary, but no office, an arrangement he said dates back to the country’s colonial past.

He cited, as an example, a first-term congressman in the United States – the equivalent of an MP in Jamaica – whose district covers approximately 200,000 residents, which is four times the size of Chang’s constituency.

That congressman, he said, had some 300 people employed to his district office and another 150 congressional staff focused on legislation in the US capital.

“He could do legislative review and work and also direct people to where government services are handled. “We have never looked at government in that way,” said Chang during the forum at the newspaper’s downtown Kingston offices last Thursday.

“The member of parliament [in Jamaica] does not have the supporting structure to provide the services required. We have done nothing to improve it since Independence,” said.

Chang said Jamaica has to find a way to “look at our entire political process, how we can structure it to meet the demand of a developing democracy and get the best recruits and maintain the integrity required”.

“I think that’s a debate and discussion that’s worth exploring.”

Dr Dayton Campbell, general secretary of the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP), suggested during a subsequent Gleaner Editors’ Forum this past Monday, that part of the additional resources that could be made available to MPs is a staff that will help draft or research proposed legislation.

This, the former St Ann North West MP suggested, would allow MPs to be able to make more meaningful contributions to the legislative process.

“Most people judge us based on the constituency work ... whether or not you come to their relatives’ funeral or a round robin, a church service and very little attention is paid to the parliamentary part of it,” Campbell said.

“Whether people actually contribute to the legislation that are tabled in the Parliament, to the debates that are happening, whether they bring any private member’s motion or anything like that …very little attention is paid to that and that’s where I think more support is needed,” he said.

The suggestion comes at a time when there is widespread public debate about the role of MPs, which was fuelled in large part by the 230-per-cent wage increase they received two years ago, which moved their annual salary from $4.3 million to $14.2 million.

“We believe this to be in the best interest of Jamaica. It is not about who occupies these positions today, it is about the quality Jamaica will be able to attract and retain in positions of political leadership, at all levels, tomorrow and beyond,” said then Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke, who piloted the increases in Parliament.

Dr Maziki Thame, senior lecturer in the Department of Government at The University of the West Indies Mona campus, said she would need to know more on the specifics of the ‘resources’ being referenced.

She acknowledged, however, that staffing constituency offices in a way that could enhance their work would be helpful in raising the standards of politicians, especially when their party is in opposition.

“When they are in power they are able to rely on the state to provide information and support. When they are on the outside they are more reliant on volunteers or on interest groups with capital that can support them. The undue influence of the wealthy is of course a problem for democracy in the world,” Thame asserted.

She argued that it might serve Jamaica’s interest to “institutionalise aspects of party politics related to governance such as the support needed to prepare for office and/or parliament” and suggested that this be discussed.

“We have a problem of underperformance of MPs in parliament, even after we were told they would improve when they earned more,” she said, making reference to the salary increase for MPs and the government’s justification for the wage increase.

Chang sought to explain that the salary increases implemented two years ago was the “first step to put some structure in the compensation that relates to performance and job requirement”.

“And hopefully provide a foundation which can build out the public service.”

livern.barrett@gleanerjm.com