Attempts at government by consensus can sometimes prove counter-productive but there is merit in the call for public discussions and input on the proposals to renovate and expand or relocate the current Houses of Parliament.

The Prime Minister, last week, presented as fait accompli a decision to acquire lands adjacent to Gordon House and to upgrade the current facilities. There has been little objection since it is accepted, except by the most parsimonious, that the nation's business cannot be done properly and efficiently within the present cramped space at Duke Street.

Since then the long-proposed relocation to National Heroes Park has been resurrected. Another proposal that has not gained much currency in recent times is for the under-utilised facilities of the Jamaica Conference Centre to be co-opted for use as the nation's Parliament.

At present, except for the section dubbed 'The Avenue of Heroes', National Heroes Park is badly maintained. And, with the Ministry of Finance's 'acquisition' of another section which it has turned into a car park for its employees, there is not much of a green space area there for people to relax and enjoy anyway.

Governments have been reluctant to spend money on a new Parliament building mindful of the criticisms that they should not be seen to be doing things for their own comfort, while other public facilities remain in dire need of upgrading. At some point, however, leadership requires that action be taken and not cower before mindless carping.

At this juncture, we would support the appointment of a small committee that is able to solicit views, through the media, and other avenues, in which the general public can have an input on the location of the nation's Parliament.

This need not detain us over many months.

In the interim, we may examine the challenges of keeping the legislature in its present locale. We are not convinced that even with the acquisition of adjacent lands, there would be enough space to allow for several committees to meet at the same time, for MPs to get administrative work done and for parking for the members of House and the public. There is also the headache of the traffic pile-up that often results in the vicinity of Duke, Sutton, Church and East streets, when Parliament is in session, and roads are blocked off to regular vehicular traffic.

Is there any merit to the argument that great violence would be done to the memory of our national heroes and former prime ministers if the legislature were to be relocated adjacent to where they are buried at National Heroes Park? It is quite possible, we submit, for a comprehensive plan to be designed that would allow for the modern offices of an upgraded Parliament, with an area to honour and bury national leaders and a well-maintained park that allows for rest and recreation. There would have to be, of course, proper security arrangements so as not to compromise the safety of persons doing business inside or visiting the Parliament.

So, let's have a debate, but not an interminable one.