Omar Anderson, Gleaner Writer
BRUCE GOLDING, Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) leader yesterday proposed that Political Ombudsman Bishop Herro Blair be appointed to head a monitoring committee which would be charged with designing measures "to cut the umbilical cord between politics and criminality in garrison constituencies."
The committee, Mr. Golding said, would also monitor government contracts to determine whether money from such contracts is used to perpetuate criminality.
Speaking at the Hilton Kingston Hotel in New Kingston yesterday, shortly after naming his new-look shadow cabinet, the JLP leader said politicians must be held to a rigid account by an intensive monitoring system.
According to Mr. Golding, that committee should also include representatives from the private sector, the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the Church, and a human rights organisation.
GARRISON CONSTITUENCIES
He suggested that the committee's work should first identify garrison constituencies.
"Let them (committee) monitor the transformation process to determine whether the politicians in these communities are adhering to the required programme of transformation," the JLP and Opposition Leader proposed.
He added that the committee would also be required to report its findings periodically to Parliament.
"Let (political) parties give a clear undertaking that they will withdraw these candidates whose conduct breaches the guidelines laid down," Mr. Golding said. "On behalf of the Jamaica Labour Party, I give that undertaking today."
Additionally, the West Kingston Member of Parliament again called for the enactment of legislation to impeach MPs. He said this was necessary so that a report from the monitoring committee could form the basis for impeaching an MP and removing that person from office.
But Mr. Golding said he wanted more from the monitoring committee in identifying contractors who are engaged in supporting criminal activities, and who are regularly in receipt of large government contracts.
REPORT TO PARLIAMENT
"Let them (committee) report to Parliament as well, so that the public can monitor whether government money is being put where the criminal's mouth is," the JLP leader said.
Turning to the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica's (PSOJ) 13-point Declaration of Emancipation announced last week, Mr. Golding said the JLP was prepared to commit to the declaration, following minor changes to the document. He added that most of the commitments set out in the declaration were already included in the Code of Political Conduct both political parties signed in 2002.
