Andrew Gallimore, state minister in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.

Daraine Luton and Edmond Campbell, Staff Reporters

NINE MONTHS after the Bruce Golding administration took the reins of power, Parliament is yet to give birth to a major piece of legislation. However, at least seven pieces of minor legislation have been passed.

Acting leader of government business in the House of Representatives, Andrew Gallimore, says the drafting of legislation is an extensive process.

He told The Sunday Gleaner that a bill could at times go through seven different drafts before it is taken to Cabinet, and subsequently Parliament, for passage.

Thus far, 27 committees have been established in Parliament, 10 of which are joint select committees of the House of Representa-tives and the Senate. Sixteen of these committees are active.

Before taking office in October, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) had promised to establish, among other things, an independent authority to investigate instances of abuse by members of the security forces.

No completion time

A joint select committee on 'The Independent Commission of Investigations Act, 2008' was established late last month. The committee has invited stakeholders to participate in its deliberations on the bill. However, there is no indication as to when this committee will complete its work and report back to Parliament for legislative consideration.

A joint select committee has also been asked to consider and report on the recommendations contained in the report of the Jamaica Abortion Policy Review Advisory Group.

Another pre-election promise for which a committee has been set up is the Constituency Development Fund. This is a special select committee to examine and recommend for approval, proposed estimates for constituency projects submitted to the Constituency Development Fund by respective members of Parliament.

Whistle-blower legislation

Parliament has also set up committees to examine green papers on the reform of the defamation law as well as the implementation of whistle-blower legislation.

This aside, it has been governance by committee. Dr Peter Phillips, leader of government business in the House, tells The Sunday Gleaner that "the legislative agenda generally does not seem to be particularly intensive".

"Having had 18 years to prepare, they seem to have come in quite unprepared," Phillips added.

However, Gallimore argues that the committees are working feverishly to complete several matters now before them.

He says there was more activity than the norm at the committee level. "We are making every effort to get the work done in the shortest possible time," he adds.

Much of the legislative year thus far has been consumed by Budget and Sectoral Debates, with the latter giving all MPs an opportunity to pontificate in as much time as he/she chooses.

Phillips is hopeful that the work of the Parliament will gather steam when the Sectoral Debates are over.

"I would hope and expect that now that the Sectoral Debate is just about finished, that the House would return to a serious agenda of legislation to be considered," Phillips says.

Slow pace

Last week, A. J. Nicholson, leader of opposition business in the Senate, protested over the number of committees that have been established in the Upper House. He stopped just short of saying he was unhappy with the pace at which legislation was being brought for debate.

Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller has also frowned upon the way the House was treating a report of a joint select committee, which had recommended that the Offences against the Person Act and the Incest (punishment) (amendment) Bill, be merged to become the Sexual Offences Bill.

Simpson Miller urged speedy action, arguing that sexual assaults, including deadly attacks, and the stain of incestuous relationships, were rife in the country.

Bills passed