Concern grows as CDF meetings escape glare of the media
Published:Wednesday | September 22, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Edmond Campbell, Senior Staff Reporter
MORE THAN two years after the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) administration established the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) allocating an estimated $5.1 billion, to date, for spending in 60 constituencies, a committee set up to deliberate on how the funds are spent continues to hold parliamentary meetings in a cloud of secrecy.
Derrick Kellier, leader of opposition business in the House of Representatives, wants the public to be given access to those meetings, which effectively deal with how taxpayers' money is spent in the constituencies by members of parliament.
Reacting to repeated requests for a response as to why the media were barred from covering sittings, committee Chairman Everald Warmington indicated that he would not be saying much on the matter.
"As far as the press is concerned, it is a pork barrel. Anyway, I can't deal with it. I am driving, but I still wouldn't answer," he said.
House Speaker Delroy Chuck, however, admitted he was in the dark on the matter.
"To be frank, I didn't even know this committee meets in camera," Chuck replied.
"What they do, to the best of my knowledge - I have never been to one of these meetings - is that they just examine projects sent in by Parliament," he said.
Chuck gave the assurance that he would make enquiries about the in camera CDF meetings today.
In the meantime, Kellier insisted that the public should be privy to the CDF committee deliberations.
"There really is nothing in there that should escape the public's telescope," Kellier added.
The Gleaner has been reliably informed that the early minutes of the committee meetings did not indicate any decision that the media should be kept out of the sittings.
The Golding administration had taken steps to increase transparency and accountability in Government by appointing opposition members to chair parliamentary committees, thereby providing increased oversight.
However, the CDF committee is chaired by a government MP.
The terms of reference of the CDF committee is to "examine and recommend, for approval, proposed estimates for constituency projects submitted to the CDF PMU (Project Management Unit) by the respective members of parliament."