Excerpt from The Jamaica Observer coloumn published on Monday, March 14, 2022
By Jean Lowrie-Chin
Let us give thanks for the Jamaica Accountability Meter Portal (JAMP) funded by the EU, which tracks breaches of government policy and regulations; the performance of Members of Parliament; and monitors the passage of key legislation in Parliament. Please visit their website at jampja.org.
In her presentation to Caribbean Community of Retired Persons (CCRP) members last Tuesday, JAMP Executive Director Jeanette Calder reminded us that taxpayers fund an “accountability budget” of $5.194 billion for the Auditor General’s Department, Integrity Commission, Independent Commission of Investigations, Houses of Parliament, Office of the Public Defender, Office of the Services Commission, and Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency. Surely, members of the public should ensure that our money is well spent; the JAMP gives us the opportunity to do so via their interactive functions.
Calder reminded us that Parliament is not the Government by outlining its functions:
• Representing the electorate
• Passing laws
• Overseeing the work of Government
She emphasised that Jamaica has enough resources to ensure good governance: legislation, the Access to Information Act; press freedom, oversight agencies, and civil society organisations; development partners; technology; and a self-driven, young generation of intrepid Jamaicans. At this point, I suggested that she add retirees who, as CCRP honoree Parris Lyew-Ayee Sr pointed out at our event last year, are no longer afraid of victimisation on the job.
Jamaica Highlights 