Non-Jamaicans will be allowed to make submissions to a parlia-mentary committee when another round of intense debate on abortion begins later this month.

A joint select committee has been set up to consider the recommendations of the Abortion Policy Review Group. As part of this exercise, the committee is expected to receive comments on the proposals from 53 persons.

During a meeting of the committee, at Gordon House yesterday, it was disclosed that nationals and non-nationals have expressed a desire to appear before Parliament to make presentations.

On October 23, six pro-abortion activists will present their views on the subject, while the following week, a similar number of anti-abortion groups will submit their proposals.

Valuable information

The committee members were divided on the issue of whether overseas nationals should be allowed to make presentations to the committee.

Opposition Senator Sandrea Falconer said she had no problem with Jamaicans in the diaspora participating in the discussion on abortion, but objected to non-Jamaican nationals appearing before the committee.

Lisa Hanna, opposition member of parliament, disagreed with her colleague, saying other jurisdictions had examined recommendations for and against abortion and could share valuable information on their experiences.

"We are now in a critical time where I think it would be helpful to listen to some of the constraints and also the help they received," she added.

Senator Dwight Nelson said the idea of foreign nationals influencing local legislation was not without precedence. He said Jamaica participated in talks at the International Labour Organisation (ILO), where conventions were agreed on by some 150 countries.

"They sit down in Geneva and decide on conventions which influence legislation in Jamaica," he said.

Liberal approach

However, Government MP and attorney-at-law Laurie Broderick warned against a liberal approach in fashioning legislation. He questioned whether the country would allow non-nationals to make submissions on the upcoming debate on whether to retain the death penalty in Jamaica.

"We would be subjected to a barrage of views out of the EU (European Union) countries, which may not relate or pertain to our social needs or problems," he said.

Government MP St Aubyn Bartlett supported Falconer's position, urging the committee not to invite other nationals to make presentations in Gordon House.

He, however, said the committee should review their written submissions.

Chairman of the committee, Rudyard Spencer, ruled that both Jamaicans and non-nationals would be given an opportunity to appear before the committee.

The committee agreed on a massive public education programme on abortion-related issues and consultations are to be held islandwide to give Jamaicans an opportunity to take part in the debate.