GOVERNANCE REFORM PLAN

1. Support a referendum to determine whether Jamaica is to adopt a Republican for of Government. If the referendum decides on a Republican-type structure of government with a President as Head of State, the JLP would support a President selected by the Prime Minister subject to confirmation by two-thirds of the members of each House of Parliament. This would ensure that the President would be a non-partisan figure.

2. Introduce legislation (if the new post of President is created) to allow the President to select as Prime Minister the person who commands support from a majority of the members of the elected House of Representatives

3. Introduce legislation to increase the number of Senators in the Upper House to an agreed number that will allow appointment of a more meaningful number of independent members from civil society.

4. Introduce a constitutional amendment to increase the number of seats in the elected House of Representatives to an odd number order to avoid any possible deadlock from an odd number of seats.

5. The Leader of the House and the Leader of the Senate will have Ministerial rank, but would not have portfolio responsibilities, so as to ensure that the House and Senate are not under the control of the executive under a JLP government.

6. Introduce legislation to ensure that Ministers and Ministers of State shall not exceed in number one-half of the total membership of the House of Representatives to ensure the retention of a viable back bench.

7. The chairmen and members of committees and other critical national entities which hold a delicate national balance of power would be appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Prime Minister but subject to confirmation by a two-thirds majority of each House of Parliament. Examples include the Services Commissions, Electoral Advisory Committee, the Contractor-General, and the Integrity Commission.

8. In order to strengthen the oversight role of Parliament, the Appropriations Committee and the Internal Affairs Committee of Parliament would be required to meet at least monthly to examine budgetary expenditure of the current year as well as to review the programmes and policies of the Ministry of National Security.

9. Pursue the completion of Phases Two and Three of the electoral reform programme to ensure the introduction of electronic verification of voters and, at a later stage, electronic voting.

EQUAL RIGHTS AND JUSTICE PLAN

1. Ensure that the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms which sets out all the fundamental rights and freedoms which the people have reserved for themselves (and which was originally proposed by the JLP) is enacted and that these rights are enshrined in the Jamaican Constitution.

2. Redefine the role of the Public Defender (originally proposed by the JLP) to ensure that the original concept of active prosecution of violations and abuse is the focus, in order to safeguard individual rights, particularly those of the poor and abused.

3. Launch a major courthouse renovation and upgrading plan, as started in the 1980s, to provide better facilities, equipment, and reference books for all courthouses.

4. Require that the terms of contracts for public works, services, acquisition and divestment of state assets must be verified and certified by the Contractor-General as compliant with policies for awards and within acceptable limits of pricing. Non-compliant agreements will be illegal. This requirement will prevent over-invoicing, over-payment and under-pricing.

5. Introduce official proceedings to Impeach high public officials, elected and non-elected, for non-performance of duties, abuse of privilege, power of statutory authority, conduct demeaning to office, corruption or mis-appropriation of funds or property.

6. Adequately staff and equip public institutions, which are charged with the detection of corruption. These institutions include the Anti-Corruption Commission and Police Public Complaints Authority.

7. Continue to utilise the services of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council as the final Court of Appeal.

8. Introduce character education in our school system to weed corruption out of the Jamaican psyche by teaching values of honesty and integrity from the early years of life.