Evolution of the Jamaican Legislature Continues

The Jamaican Legislature predates Independence and has, over time, progressed and achieved many milestones.

“It has evolved in terms of location… it has been at different places. It has evolved with different types of persons who constitute the legislature in terms of race, sex, and religion. Even the name, at times we called it legislative council, local assembly and it is only in 1960 it was called a Parliament,” Public Education Officer at the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT), Duane Harris, tells JIS News.

“Even the number of persons who constituted the legislature evolved over time. So, yes, there has been an evolution, not just in terms of location, but several other issues as well,” he adds.

Mr. Harris informs that in 1655 when the British invaded Jamaica and seized it from the Spaniards, they had to make laws to govern and, hence, formed a civil government in 1661. The first civil Governor was Edward D’Oyley.

“He had 10 men to help him. These were military men, and it is said that they first met at Port Royal. In 1664, was when the first set of elections were held and the persons who came together to form the legislature, [which] was called the House of Assembly… met at several places in Spanish Town,” he states.

He notes that the eventually built the Legislature, which was called the House of Assembly, in 1764.

The House of Assembly always met (with slight diversion in favour of Kingston under Admiral Charles Knowles) in Spanish Town.

“The Legislature actually met at Wolmer’s [school], which used to be downtown at the time, and it met at several places in Kingston. But after he left Jamaica, the Legislature was transferred back to Spanish Town,” Mr. Harris says.

“However, in 1872, when Kingston became the capital of Jamaica, everything had to be transferred to Kingston including the Governor’s mansion. So that is when the Governor moved to what is now King’s House. So, the Legislature was transferred to Kingston at Headquarters House,” he adds.

Headquarters House remained the seat of the Legislature until 1960, when a new building was provided, called George William Gordon House, to commemorate the Jamaican National Hero and patriot.

Gordon was accused of instigating the 1865 Morant Bay Rebellion and was condemned to death and hanged in the town.

Mr. Harris says that after the rebellion, the Legislature voted itself out of existence.

After 1865, a new governor named John Peter Grant came to Jamaica and decided to reintroduce the Legislature.

“So, there were elections again and people could vote. Blacks were allowed to vote at the time; but, of course, you had to have property. There was no universal adult suffrage at the time, and it was while at Headquarters House, that the first black man was elected; he was Alexander Dixon for St. Elizabeth in 1899,” Mr. Harris informs.

He notes that in those days, it was one elected person per parish/constituency, and they were not paid, as their roles and functions were deemed public service and duty.

Presently, the Parliament, which now meets at Gordon House, is comprised of the Upper and Lower Houses.

The Upper House is the Senate which consists of 21 senators who are appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister (13) and the

Leader of Opposition (eight). Of this number, no more than four can be members of the Cabinet.

The Lower House is also called the House of Representatives. It consists of 63 elected representatives, known as Members of Parliament (MP), for the constituencies in Jamaica.

Regarding women in politics, Mr. Harris states that the first woman to be elected to Headquarters House was Iris Collins for St. James North West for the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) in 1944, followed by Rose Leon for St. Andrew Western (JLP) in 1949 and 1955. Then there was the People’s National Party’s Iris King, for Kingston Western Central in 1959.

According to an article entitled ‘Headquarters House, the Home of Jamaica’s Democratic Heritage’, written by Mr. Harris, other women appointed to the upper chamber of the legislature included Edith Clarke, Edith Dalton James, Uno Jacobs, and Isobel Seaton.

The first woman to be elected to local government in Jamaica was Mary Morris Knibb in the Kingston and St. Andrew Parish Council election of 1925.

Since 1944, there has been a steady increase in the number of female legislators.

In September 2020, a record number of eight women were appointed to serve in the 21-member Senate.

Four of the 13 selected Government Senators, and four of the eight appointed Opposition members are women.

Additionally, there are 18 women in the House of Representatives, the highest number ever.

In the continued evolution of the Legislature, Parliamentarians are now allowed to use laptop computers or other devices serving similar functions, during sittings of the Senate and the Lower House.

Meanwhile, ground will be broken this year for a new Parliament building. The initiative is part of several infrastructure projects identified for implementation in commemoration of the nation’s Diamond Jubilee this year.

Speaking in the House of Representatives recently, Leader of Government Business and Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, said the new building, having been designed by Jamaican talent, will be constructed by locals and, when completed, will be established across some three floors.

“This building has been designed with two chambers – one for the Senate [and] one for the House of Representatives. It will have several meeting rooms, some adjustable, and this will allow for all committees of the House to be fully functional and not… jostling as we now do,” Mr. Bartlett said.

He noted that the new building has been conceptualised to last for at least three generations, allowing for additional seats, when needed, “meaning we are making plans to facilitate its utilisation for close to 100 years without significant structural change required.”

“There will be up-to-date cameras and technology in order to ensure connectivity and security of all users of the facility. This will, therefore, facilitate the new hybrid variety of meetings which we have become familiar with over the past two years,” Mr. Bartlett said.