Improve the efficiency, effectiveness of conducting the nation’s business

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Further to Professor Rosalea Hamilton’s article of 23 February 2025 on having an elected rather than an appointed Senate, I would like to add that we also need to separate the executive and legislative branches of government in order to increase their performance and accountability by having the executive branch manned by experienced and professionally capable personnel. Furthermore, non-performing Cabinet members can be replaced without any political fallout, and this can ensure that the country receives the best direction, leadership and value available.

A separate legislative branch, Upper and lower Houses, made up of the elected members, would be able to sit in session for at least three to four days a week thereby being able to pass and update our legislation in a timelier and more effective basis. Members would also be able to spend one day a week in their constituency leaving the weekends free for their own family commitments and well-deserved rest.

We would then have the opportunity to update and improve all our laws including addressing relatively small problems which directly impact the rule of law. For example, the penalty for driving without a fitness certificate. A couple years ago I was in an accident with another motorist who had no insurance or fitness certificate and to my amazement the penalty for not having a “fitness” was less than the cost of the certificate. Why don’t we as a rule make the penalty for non-compliance a multiple of the cost of compliance, for example ten times, therefore if it costs $4,500.00 for the fitness fee the penalty is at least $45,000.00.

Making the fiscal penalties a multiple of the cost of compliance would mean that only the cost of compliance must be modified because non-compliance is addressed by the inbuilt multiplier.

I sincerely hope that we do not rush the Constitutional Reform process but truly and deliberately engage in this process, with the people, for the purpose of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of how we conduct the nation’s business.

MARK N. KERR-JARRETT, CD,

JP

Executive chairman

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