The Gavel - Poor timing for Opposition's walkout

WE ARE unconvinced that it was necessary for the Opposition to walk out of Parliament when it did last Wednesday. There was no justification, in our minds, for Portia Simpson Miller, the leader of the Opposition, to have taken up her belongings and lead the opposition members out of the sitting of the Standing Finance Committee at that time.

For us, her decision to leave the chamber appeared not to have been triggered by what seemed to be the masking of $8 billion in Jamaica Infrastructure Development Programme (JDIP) money by the Government.

From where we sat, it was the insults which came from the Government benches, aimed at the opposition spokesman on finance Dr Omar Davies and others on that side of the floor, which moved Simpson Miller into action.

Even members of her team appeared to be caught off guard when Simpson Miller decided that enough was enough.

This was reflected in the slow pace in which they answered the walkout call.

Indeed, it seems the Opposition members had planned the walk out well in advance as they had a hunch, justifiably so, that something was amiss in the way the Government was handling JDIP money.

Questionable

But the ultimate timing was questionable.

Mike Henry, the transport and works minister, under whose portfolio the programme falls, was at sea as he tried to bluff his way through the issues when asked about it.

Finance Minister Audley Shaw, despite a near one-hour briefing from his technocrats, as well as Prime Minister Bruce Golding could provide no palatable answer as to why the $8 billion in expenditure for roads was not included in the pages of the Budget.

The Opposition had long been in walkout mood as nearly every member on that side had packed up their books and other belongings as they awaited their leader's signal.

Phillip Paulwell, for example, rushed to Gordon House to be a part of the walkout which his party had planned and was prepared to put into effect.

So when the insults came, Simpson Miller - despite remaining in the House to listen to Shaw's and Golding's unconvincing responses - decided it was time to abandon the people's business.

A political statement had to be made and she wanted to send a clear message to the Government.

The Gavel, however, is not bowled over by the position of the Opposition.

It was, at the very least, irresponsible to leave the review of the Estimates of Expenditure in the hands of Government members.

When the Opposition left the chamber, it left the door open for the lead singer to sing to the choir - there was not one dissenting voice or inquisitive eye to question whether the burden the taxpayers would bear was a fair one.

So caught up the Opposition was, in walking out of Gordon House, that the expenditure for health was not properly examined.

And when the opposition members left the House, the critical agriculture ministry escaped the microscopic lens.

We believe the Opposition badly miscalculated its walkout.

Perhaps if they want to make a grand political statement they should consult with Henry, who has 'resuscitated' the rail service and expects to have it running without support from the national purse.

We would have been comfortable if the Opposition refused to vote on the entire works budget rather than walking out all together.

But, surely, the Opposition can redeem itself in the Budget debate, as well as in the Sectoral debate to follow.

Plan, prepare

Simpson Miller must now demonstrate to Jamaica that her team, which admittedly has asked critical questions and contributed immensely to debates in the Parliament, understands the problems Jamaica faces and is preparing itself to take over the reins of Government .

The Opposition, after abandoning its responsibility to thoroughly examine the Estimates of Expenditure, should not use the Budget debate to shout that Shaw's $544-billion spending plan lacks credibility.

We urge the Opposition to use its time at the crease to point us towards solutions, and to give the country clear signals on what its policies would be if it takes over government.

To this end, Simpson Miller must name a real shadow Cabinet and move away from the 19-member team she now has.

This should be done in time for the Budget and Sectoral debates to allow ministers-in-waiting to present on their direct portfolio issue so Jamaica can determine if the Opposition is worthy of another turn at governance.

Simpson Miller must know that when the Opposition takes the bold step of walking out on the people's business, the matter just cannot end there.

The Opposition must make amends for failing to do its job properly during the sitting of the Standing Finance Committee, and it must give the country solution-oriented presentations over the course of the debates.

thegavel@gleanerjm.com