Opposition MPs Submit Bills Targeting Public Works, Health and Social Security Oversight

7

MPs Pringle and Bowen Submit Private Members’ Bills

for Parliament Sitting

Earlier this week, three Private Member’s Bills were submitted to the

Clerk of Parliament by Opposition Leader the Hon. Jamale Pringle, MP

for All Saints East and St. Luke, and the Hon. Sherfield Bowen, MP for

St. Phillip South.

MP Pringle submitted two Bills: a Motion for the establishment and

composition of a Public Works and National Housing Joint Select

Committee and a Motion for the establishment and composition of a

Public Health and Social Transformation Joint Select Committee.

Giving his reasons, MP Pringle explains: “Within the 2026 Budget

Estimates, the Ministry of Public Works continued to flag several issues,

including procurement which is especially concerning in light of

vehicle-gate, road rehabilitation, and the maintenance of government

buildings, while the Ministry of Health flagged insufficient funds from

the Treasury, the lack of back-up power at many facilities, insufficient

basic medical equipment, and so much more.”

MP Pringle asserts it is time for the Legislature to provide oversight of

the Executive branch, thereby fulfilling one of its primary

responsibilities.

“We as parliamentarians cannot allow the Cabinet ministers to come

boasting of hundreds of millions in surplus when these Ministries are

crying out due to their dire state,” he says. “Therefore, we are proposing

measures that will bolster accountability and transparency and get to the

root of the issues repeatedly flagged.”Meanwhile, MP Bowen’s submission requires the Minister of Finance to

lay before the House all the audited financial statements, actuarial

reports, and statements of investment for the Social Security Fund that

Prime Minister Gaston Browne has admitted are in his possession.

“Currently, the Minister of Finance is in clear violation of Sections 17

and 18 of the Social Security Act of 1972,” MP Bowen says. “How can

any informed and prudent decision be made by the Parliament in the

absence of these critical documents?” he asks.

Opposition Leader Pringle concludes, “In a democracy, Parliament must

do more than debate. It must legislate, oversee, and act in the interest of

the people. The public can look forward to other Private Members’ Bills

that my colleagues will be submitting for future sittings.”

As defined by Standing Order 30(3), Private Members’ Bills are Motions

or Bills that have been submitted by an MP who is not a Cabinet

Minister or a Parliamentary Secretary.

The first such Bill in recent history was introduced by MP Trevor Walker

and supported by all Opposition MPs. That bill proposed a change to the

Oath of Allegiance and was rejected by the Government. However, the

Attorney-General later reintroduced the same measure and took credit

for the initiative.

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7 COMMENTS

  2. This stupid suffix added to the vehicle scandal to make it a Richard Nixon era scandal is just making the opposition sound like jokers fabricating something each time I hear ” vehicle gate” what’s that?

  3. What is suggested hear of introducing Private Members Bills to force Ministers of Government to act in accordance with certain statutory requirements makes no sense. If according to law a Minister of Government is required to do certain things and there is failure to do what is required, then the correct recourse is to apply for Judicial Review and ask for an order of mandamus to force the government minister to in accordance with the law. A Private Members Bill cannot address that problem. Also, the ayes have it in Parliament and such Private Members Bill would not pass.

  5. As a point of information, Parliamentary Committees whether SELECT or STANDING Committees are established through a Resolution of Parliament and not through legislation.

  7. What will really be presented in Parliament Bills or Motions since Bills and Motions are two different things. The article does not make it clear.

Comments are closed.