New Speaker of the House of Representatives, Delroy Chuck (centre), is 'dragged' to the Speaker's chair, in the traditional fashion, by Government House members Rudyard Spencer (left) and Christopher Tufton. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

New Speaker of the House of Representatives, Delroy Chuck, took the Speaker's chair for the first time last week. Below, his maiden speech in that capacity:

Congratulations! I welcome everyone, especially the new members who are serving for the first time as Members of Parliament, and those members who are returning and who have, once again, found favour and gained the support of their constituencies. We have taken a solemn oath to serve and to represent our country and our people to the best of our ability.

As your newly sworn-in Speaker, I have a few brief remarks.

I thank you for your support and hope it will continue throughout my tenure. I intend to serve you, this Parliament and our country with sincerity, integrity and, God willing, with distinction. As Speaker, I will conduct the affairs of Parliament fairly, firmly and fearlessly. I pray that we will discharge our duties and responsibilities faithfully.

Robust Parliament is vital

In our parliamentary system of government, a strong and robust Parliament is vital to our democratic process and, here, democracy can either shine brightly, or fade ignominiously.

How we conduct ourselves sets the example and tone for the rest of the country. Debates need not be sterile, dour and boring; they can and should be vigorous, uplifting and even strident and contentious.

"Democracy," Winston Churchill once declared, "is the worst form of government except for the others." Democracy promotes freedom and the right to choose. We value democracy and will work strenuously to strengthen our democratic processes. Our country can only benefit from the competition of ideas, the battle of opinions, the clash of personalities and the emergence and victory of the best policies after open and serious debate.

With the Government and Opposition sides almost equally balanced, debates are likely to be intense and I expect this Parliament to be the centre of attention whenever we sit.

Yet, as we seek to promote and push the issues dear to each side, I will demand and ensure that the debates be conducted in the highest tradition of parliamentary practice, with civility, decorum and respect. As Speaker, I will not be reluctant to use the gavel to restore order, or to stand to demand silence and, where necessary, adjourn Parliament to cool tempers.

Members, the country expects us to take Parliament seriously and treat one another with respect. We show respect to Parliament, our colleagues, the staff, the media and visitors by being on time. Parliament starts at 2:00 p.m. and should be the norm. I urge the Leaders of Government and Opposition business, the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition, to demand of our colleagues that we arrive within the precincts of Parliament by 1:30 p.m. and get the greetings and meetings concluded to allow Parliament to start promptly at 2:00 p.m.

This Parliament can and should become the standard-bearer of punctuality, civil behaviour and constructive engagement that can influence and change what happens in our schools, communities and other sectors of the country. We, the elected representatives of the Jamaican people, must send the correct signal, deliver the right messages and provide the quality leadership to make our people proud.

To be sure, there are many issues that divide and separate us. Yet, our country cannot survive or even hope to move forward if we, the elected leaders, cannot find common ground, mutual interests and agreed policies around which we can unite, live, work and grow together. We can create the quality society and better Jamaica for which both sides campaigned so vigorously and passionately.

Forge a kinder, gentler society

As your Speaker, I want to work with both sides, individually and collectively, inside and outside of this House, to inspire and lift our people towards a better quality of life. There are many issues, concerns and interests on which, working together, we can unite our people, strengthen the bonds of friendship and build bridges of understanding that can forge a kinder and gentler society.

Jamaica has many problems but this Parliament must not increase or aggravate them. Together, we can ease the pain, alleviate the hardships and promote the well-being of our people. Together, we can respond to and resolve some of the many pressing concerns of the Jamaican people. Together, we can make our people forever grateful and appreciative if by our conduct, utterances and policies we strive to and, actually:

Protect and safeguard their lives, limbs and liberties;

Allow their fundamental rights and freedoms to triumph and limited only by the regard for others' rights and freedoms;

Secure and guarantee justice in a fair and reasonable time, and excise and eschew injustice wherever it occurs;

Condemn and proscribe the rampant indiscipline and brutish behaviour overwhelming every sector of our society;

Treat and engage one another, however lowly his or her status in life may be, with respect, civility and humanity - in truth, to be our brother's keeper.

In short, it is time we, the elected leaders, create the good society for Jamaicans to move up and be treated as first-class citizens, not only at home, but wherever they may travel abroad.

Warning cry

To create a truly good and peaceful Jamaica, we need to bridge the gap between the haves and the have-nots. Recently, an article entitled 'Why I am leaving South Africa', published in the London Sunday Times, was brought to my attention. I would urge everyone to read that article. The wife of Alan Paton, the well-known author of Cry, the Beloved Country, wrote it. It is a warning cry to any country where crime is out of control and is divided for whatever reason.

I urge that unless we find the ways and means to close the gap between the haves and the have-nots, it will not be possible to build a peaceful, quality society or the prosperous, better Jamaica we envisage. And, in bridging that gap, it is not necessary to make the rich any less rich, but we must make the poor less poor. This nation needs to reach out to the poorest of the poor, the helpless, the old, the sick, the forgotten and abandoned, many of whom are so visible, but most suffer far away from society's mainstream.

In closing, let us work to move Jamaica one step forward. As your Speaker, I want to work with each of you to build the quality society and the better Jamaica, so others may see our good works and glorify our Father who is in Heaven. As we start our new Parliament, I ask for God's blessing on all of us.