JAMP wants MP job descriptions before election

The Jamaica Accountability Meter Portal (JAMP) is calling on Prime Minister Andrew Holness to fulfil his 2023 commitment to establish job descriptions for members of parliament (MPs) before the upcoming general election.

Following the massive salary increases to politicians in 2023, Holness promised accountability mechanisms that would justify future compensation decisions.

"Along with improved compensation, there must be a well-articulated and transparent performance measurement and accountability framework. The other side of the compensation reform is the implementation of the performance-based system and an accountability framework to be implemented in the next two years," the prime minister said in 2023.

Jeanette Calder, executive director of JAMP, noted that draft job descriptions for MPs and Cabinet ministers were subsequently tabled and a joint select committee established to consider the matter. There have been two public consultations and two committee meetings, but nothing has happened since.

JAMP said that voters now face the prospect of selecting representatives without clear standards to evaluate either past performance or future performance. The advocacy group has called on Holness to finalise and approve the job descriptions before Parliament is prorogued.