The Editor, Sir:
I feel that the time has come for us as citizens of Jamaica to demand exactly what we want and insist that it be delivered. Very few Jamaicans could be satisfied with the performance of our government in recent times and maybe it is now time for us to tell our leaders what to do in explicit terms.
There are a number of initiatives I will want to see the next government pursue and I will set them out below:
Reduce the number of ministries to no greater than 10 - We could easily get rid of the Ministries of Sports, Local Government, Production and Water, among others.
The Minister of Justice to be appointed by the Opposition Leader
The Public Accounts Committee to be converted to an appropriation committee which would look at planned spending before they occur.
Allow the Opposition to appoint auditors which they can direct at any time to look into any issue relating to spending from the treasury.
Make it mandatory for the government to answer all questions raised by an Opposition in Parliament
Cancel government-funded overseas health insurance scheme for government personnel or create similar scheme for all government workers.
Make education tuition-free to all Jamaicans up to high school level.
Allow all Jamaicans desiring to hold arms to do so freely.
Remove height restriction for Jamaican desiring to join the army and police force.
Repeal indecent language law - There is no similar law anywhere else on this planet.
Put in place a pension plan for all government workers similar to that in place for former Prime Ministers or bring the Prime Minister's pension plan in line with that of all other government workers.
Make the annual salary increase of the politician equivalent to 90 per cent of the average increase given to all government workers with the possibility of them earning a bonus based on growth in the economy over and above five per cent per annum.
Put in place a special prosecutor whose sole responsibility will be to prosecute corrupt public officials.
Hold a referendum on the issue of changing final court of arbitration from the Privy Council to the Caribbean Court of Justice.
The appointment of a Governor-General to be done jointly by Prime Minister and Opposition Leader.
Abolish parish councils and have MPs appoint assistant MPs - The current system is prone to conflict whereby MPs of one party victimise councillors of another party
Ensure that the country's business moves from being centred on the Cabinet to be centered on Parliament, with the Cabinet role becoming Parliament's labourer.
I am, etc.,
JEROME HENRY
Buff Bay, Portland
