Hay-Webster and SamudaVernon Daley, Staff Reporter
LEGISLATORS have once again complained about the inadequacy of the facilities at Gordon House and called for the hastening of plans to build a new Parliament.
The issue surfaced at Wednesday's joint meeting of the House of Senate committees, where matters relating to the comfort of legislators were discussed.
Members raised a fuss about the cramped facilities in the main chamber, which limit their personal space and the lack of adequate computer equipment to facilitate research.
"What we need is a new Parliament. This is not a Parliament!" said Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) MP, Karl Samuda.
He said the current structure could not provide the comfort and facilities that members needed to carry out their duties. Members of the committee agreed with Mr. Samuda, pointing to other matters of concern, including inadequate parking and poor security for members.
Government MP, Lenworth Blake, who was elected during the last election, underscored the need for a new Parliament, citing the inadequate security at Gordon House. He complained that the police, stationed at the building, give MPs no protection from political hangers-on who can be seen assembled outside when the House meets.
"I don't like the security arrangement at Parliament. It is weak," he said.
While acknowledging the complaint, acting committee chairman Derrick Kellier criticised MPs for encouraging supporters to meet them at the House.
However, in an apparent swipe at the JLP, Government MP Sharon Hay-Webster, expressed the hope that the issue of a new Parliament would not be used as a political football.
"I hope we don't play politics on this one," she said.
She said the plans to build a new Parliament at National Heroes Park were already in place and it was now left to the commitment of all parliamentarians to have those plans implemented.
In 1999 Cabinet approved $9.3 million to carry out preliminary work and activities for a new Parliament building which was to be constructed at National Heroes' Park in Kingston.
The total recommended preliminary budget for the project was $710 million and this would include the cost of the project, the ideas competition, the architectural competition and professional and technical advisors' fees.
However, the announcement sparked adverse public reactions and led to the plans being placed on the backburner.
But in his 2002/2003 Budget presentation, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson acknowledged that the conditions at Gordon House were less than adequate and gave a commitment to building a new Parliament before he leaves office.
Mr. Kellier suggested that the plans to build the new Parliament should be hastened because the longer it is put off the more expensive the venture will become.
But even as the committee pushes to have the issue of a new Parliament placed back on the agenda, it is moving ahead with plans to improve the present building. Representatives of the National Works Agency (NWA), which were invited to Wednesday's meeting, were asked by the committee to work on plans to redesign the seat arrangements in the main chamber.
Instead of having the Opposition and Government benches face each other across the aisle, the committee is toying with the idea of having the seats arranged in a semi-circle, facing the Speaker's chair.
The NWA is expected to report to the committee at its next meeting in April.
