New job description triggers attendance debate in Parliament
Published:Thursday | June 5, 2025 | 12:12 AM
Lawmakers on both sides of the political divide yesterday adopted a report from a joint select committee on job descriptions and a code of conduct for members of parliament (MPs), but the question of attendance became a bone of contention during the debate.
Kerensia Morrison, MP for St Catherine North East, who tabled the report, said the poor attendance by some parliamentarians is an issue that has long grabbed public attention.
She noted that one of the concerns raised in the public space is that there are MPs who are absent from the sittings of the House of Representatives for weeks or months, while collecting a full salary from Parliament.
The government backbencher said that, barring illness, a chronic absence by parliamentarians from the sittings raises serious questions about the MPs’ commitment to carry out their legislative duties.
Anthony Hylton, MP for St Andrew Western, indicated that while regular attendance in Parliament was important, a lawmaker’s presence might not be felt if such a person does not participate in debates.
“Coming to Parliament is important, but the most important thing is that you come here and make a meaningful contribution,” he said.
“You can’t come here and say nothing, and when you do say something it doesn’t move the needle at all. You have members here [who], if you speak elsewhere, I would not recognise your voice,” Hylton noted.
The opposition spokesman said whether a lawmaker has a just cause or an excuse not to be in Parliament cannot be determined by other parliamentarians, as it might be a matter between the MP and his doctor.
“You cannot make those assertions. You are not charged medically, and we are not entitled to hear what you have to say on that matter,” he added.
Government MP Alando Terrelonge said he found it shocking for a lawmaker to be trying to downplay the question of attendance by MPs.
“As parliamentarians, our primary function is for us to be here ...,” he said.
Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs Marlene Malahoo Forte said there have been no disagreements across the aisle on the importance of having a job description in place for MPs.
She said the adoption of the report marked a historic day for the country.
MP for St Catherine South East Robert Miller observed that, for many years, parliamentarians have been operating without a job description. He said members of the public would now have the opportunity to hold their MPs accountable with the new job description.
“This document will guide our discourse. This document will hold us accountable to the people that we strive to serve; and this document will be a blueprint in terms of our code of conduct and our performance,” he said.
The document sets out, among other things, key deliverables, or outputs, key responsibility areas, performance standards, competences and the minimum required qualification.