MP Wants House to Examine JEEP

KINGSTON — Member of Parliament for South West St. Ann, Ernest Smith, has moved a motion urging the House of Representatives to examine the proposals contained in the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP).

The motion also urged the Lower House to determine the programme's feasibility as a measure of addressing Jamaica’s social and economic challenges.

JEEP has been proposed by the Leader of Opposition, Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, as the solution to the problem of unemployment facing the country, through the creation of jobs in a number of industries, along with educational programmes.

Mr. Smith, speaking during on September 20 sitting of the Lower House, said the Government was keenly aware of the hardship facing many citizens as a result of the need for more jobs in the society, and was working to address the situation.

“The problem of unemployment has been greatly exacerbated by the global recession, which has been ravaging economies around the world, and the Government of Jamaica has been doing everything possible, not only to create employment, but to mitigate the loss of jobs during this financial crisis,” he stated.

The tabling of the motion was widely rejected by members of the Opposition, with Leader of Opposition Business in the Lower House, Michael Peart, arguing that the move had no “precedent in the Westminster model of parliament”.

“We seem to be treading on dangerous ground,” he stated.

In response, Leader of Government Business in the House, Hon. Andrew Holness, commented that the Standing Orders do not prohibit a Member of Parliament from tabling such a motion.

“We have reviewed the Standing Orders and we have found no Standing Order, which would prevent a motion of that nature from being debated.  In fact, we consider it to be an urgent matter and therefore it is a matter of national importance and it is in this house that such a plan should be scrutinised,” Mr.  Holness stated.

By Latonya Linton, JIS Reporter