EDITORIAL - Waking up a dozy Parliament

Unfortunately, the doziness of the legislature was not specially addressed in the few remarks at yesterday's first post-election sitting of Jamaica's Parliament. Nonetheless, we hope that with its members having taken their oaths, the legislature will immediately get down to serious work, eschewing its laziness of the past.

That is, we expect the House and Senate will sit more often, for longer hours and pass more laws than they did during the life of the last Parliament. For an average of 50 sittings a year, for perhaps three hours a session, and the passage of 25-30 pieces of legislation annually, is hardly good enough. Rather, it is downright inadequate given the large number of bills and motions that languish in the Parliament, some of which are crucial for the efficient management of the economy and the general welfare of the society.

Mr Andrew Holness, in his new role as leader of the Opposition, after four years in Government, including a short stint as prime minister, did make an indirect allusion to the need for legislative efficiency.

There were, he reminded the new Government, several pieces of legislation - some already drafted, to support the fight against corruption and to impose fiscal discipline - that were left by the former administration. These should not be allowed to lapse, but quickly followed up and passed.

We agree with Mr Holness.

We, though, look forward to an active legislative agenda and a working Parliament.

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