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Justice Minister lobbies for single oversight body for all commissions of parliament

Delroy Chuck and Dr. Peter Phillips
 
Justice Minister Delroy Chuck has suggested a single oversight body for all commissions of parliament.
 
He made the case as the House of Representatives on Tuesday afternoon debated a motion to set up an oversight committee for the Integrity Commission.
 
Mr. Chuck argued there are other entities which should be monitored by parliament and it would be more efficient to have one oversight body. 
 
"We can't have oversight and oversight and oversight... We just want one body to look at all the commissions of parliament. You can't have this body which we are now (setting) up and there is another oversight chaired by the Speaker. No, something is amiss," he reasoned. 
 
However, Opposition Leader Dr. Peter Phillips said he did not think that would be a good idea. 
 
While he agreed that there must be oversight of all the commissions of parliament, he said the House will have to examine the best mechanisms that could be put in place.  
 
Other public entities which report directly to the parliament include the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Electoral Commission of  Jamaica.
 
The oversight committee for the Integrity Commission is to be chaired by the Justice Minister.
 
Calls for an oversight committee were intensified last year following delays in the tabling of a report on the sale of Rooms on the Beach by the Urban Development Corporation.
 


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