Daraine Luton, Sunday Gleaner Reporter

Prime Minister Bruce Golding, flanked by Derrick Smith, minister of national security, and other members of the Cabinet, make their way to the George William Gordon House for the opening of Parliament on September 27, 2007. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

JAMAICA VOTED on September 3 last year for a change, and in came the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) government from the political wilderness; the first time since 1989.

Adjusting to new roles was an uphill struggle for several members of parliament (MPs) who found themselves in unfamiliar seats when the new Parliament opened after the September 3, 2007, general election.

After 18 and a half years in opposition, members of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) struggled not to refer to their People's National Party (PNP) counterparts as ministers.

It was sometimes hilarious as the new minister addressed the former minister as 'minister'. Through a process of trial and error, the JLP would eventually settle down.

But the robust legislative agenda which the party promised did not materialise.

Instead, the first year of the House under Speaker Delroy Chuck has been characterised by sharp barbs, lots of comedy and a bucketful of tears.

The JLP rode to power after a closely contested general election and it was a proud Bruce Golding who led his team down Duke Street to take its seats on the Government benches.

new tax measures

Finance Minister Audley Shaw presented a $489-billion budget, which Opposition Spokesman on Finance Dr Omar Davies said was not credible. Shaw had announced $5.4 billion in new tax measures to assist in funding the Budget.

The JLP government, which Opposition member Derrick Kellier has described as "wicked", kept its promises of abolishing tuition fees at the secondary level. It also abolished user fees for health care and implemented the Constituency Development Fund, which it had promised.

But the Golding administration was in turbulent waters. Major crime, including murders, were trending up and inflation was trending skywards. Derrick Smith's inability to collar crime, coupled with a diabetes illness, saw him lasting only 14 weeks as minister of national security. He was forced to make way for Trevor MacMillan. Smith would eventually assume part of Mullings' ministry, taking the mining portfolio.

But in between fighting crime and trying to grow the economy, the Golding administration was busy sniffing for whether rats existed. The Jamaica Urban Transit Company and the National Solid Waste Management Authority were prime stops, and allegations of corruption stained the air. The PNP called it witch-hunting, but the Government said it was cleaning the rugs.

It all began with the waterworks. PNP MP Kern Spencer wept openly when allegations of corruption were made against him.

Energy Minister Clive Mullings revealed that the energy-saving Cuban light-bulb programme, over which Spencer had direct responsibility, had racked up costs of $276 million and there were several unanswered questions surrounding how the project had been conducted.

Following the minister's announcements, criminal investigations were launched, leading to Spencer being charged.

Similar allegations of impropriety were made against the previous government. With no clear evidence presented, the Opposition claimed the JLP was generating a smokescreen to distract from its governance.

Golding has promised, among other things, several pieces of legislation which would make the country safer and wealthier. Most of them are still to be tabled. Commenting on Government's legislative agenda last year, Leader of Opposition Business, Dr Peter Phillips, told The Sunday Gleaner that the JLP, "having had 18 years to prepare, seems to have come in quite unprepared".

Business in the Senate has also been slow, though colourful. Opposition member K.D. Knight has made Attorney General Dorothy Lightbourne his pet subject. Knight, with his painstakingly pedestrian voice, never loses an opportunity to chide Lightbourne, whose competence as Senate leader he has questioned.

"You fumbled," Knight's voice would ring out whenever he believed Lightbourne had dithered. However, on one occasion, a band of young JLP senators would silence Knight. Aundré Franklin, Dennis Meadows and Desmond McKenzie called down shame on Knight and urged him to exercise respect for Lightbourne, urging him to act like an adult.

Legislation and crying aside, Parliament has gone a far way in compiling its own comedy hour. PNP member Colin Fagan 'remixed' the parliamentary prayer when asked to lead the House to God; JLP member J.C. Hutchinson departed from his script in reference to his proposal to trace stolen cattle via an implanted microchip.

"Di thief dem get high-tech, so we getting high-techer," Hutchinson said.

Agriculture Minister Dr Christopher Tufton started a cassava revolution by announcing that the tuber was one answer to Jamaica's food crisis.

theatrical performance

Natalie Neita-Headley delivered what came across as a theatrical performance when she made her contribution to the Sectoral Debate. She took food items into the hallowed halls to demonstrate the effects inflation was having on the poor.

Meanwhile, MPs Lisa Hanna and Andrew Holness seemed to have developed a relationship with their BlackBerry phones, spending lots of time fiddling with their instruments.

Government MPs James Robertson, Robert Montague and Everald Warmington have taken the throwing of barbs to new levels.

Peter Bunting and Michael Peart have both apologised twice for statements made in the House.

Pearnel Charles, despite obviously strug-gling to hear properly, is perhaps the biggest cross-talker in the Parliament. On almost every occasion when the Parliament discussed pressing national matters, Pearnel Charles, a JLP veteran, make sure the PNP took the blame. " ... after 18 years ... ," Charles would say whenever it was convenient.

On one occasion when Charles opened his mouth, Robert Pickersgill made a poetic stab: "If you think by the inch and talk by the yard, you deserve to be kicked by the foot."

Pickersgill, however, has not been as lyrical as Mike Henry, the minister of transport and works. During the debates of the Appropriations Bill, Henry questioned his colleague minister Andrew Holness as to the number of students being budgeted for. Holness stuttered and then began his explanation with "If", which got Henry mad.

"With all due respect, Mr Minister, children are not ifs. "If ifs and ands were pots and pans, there would be no need for tinkers."

Daryl Vaz, a JLP newcomer, nearly missed the happenings. He found himself fighting to retain the right to represent West Portland, the constituency that had voted him into Parliament with a huge majority.

Vaz had beaten the PNP's Abe Dabdoub on election night, but Dabdoub rushed to court and had the chief justice rule that Vaz was an American citizen, and, therefore, not qualified to sit in the House of Representatives. The matter is before the Court of Appeal and Vaz continues to occupy his seat, thanks to a stay of the judgement.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com.

Bills passed over the last 12 months

Firearms Validation and Amendment Act

Employment Termination and Redundancy Act

Fire Brigade Act

Pensions (Prime Minister) Act

Income Tax Amendment Act

Appropriations Bill.