Senate legalise office of custodes

Erica Virture, Senior Gleaner Writer

THE SENATE yesterday laboured for almost four hours, but in the end passed, with four amendments, the Act to establish the Office of Custos Rotulorum, setting the terms and conditions under which the office holder will operate, but without any provision to disclose the salary payable to a custos.

Leader of Government Business in the Senate Dorothy Lightbourne, piloted the Bill, but could not be convinced not to read the majority of its provisions word for word.

Lightbourne's extensive presentation left the chamber without a quorum on three occasions as government members frequently left the chamber, some for long stints.

The Bill outlines provision for the governor general, acting on the advice of the prime minister to appoint a person custos of a parish.

Under the new law, the custos shall hold office until the age of 75 years, and must be a justice of the peace; a Jamaican who is under 70 years; is able to read and speak English fluently; and is a resident of the parish of designation.

The person is expected to display the highest standard of professionalism and moral and ethical conduct; commands the respect and confidence of the local community of which that person is a member, and has given good service to the local community as well as the wider Jamaica.

Several issues

Members from both sides supported the Bill, but Opposition Senator Mark Golding raised several issues aimed at tidying up the governance of the office.

On the issue of the custos' salary and emoluments, Golding suggested that with transparency being the new dispensation, the public should be able to scrutinise the contract and ask question if they so desire.

Government Senator Arthur Williams said the governor general - who will appoint custodes based on the provisions of Section Six - should make the contract available for public scrutiny.

Golding counter argued that the governor general is not obliged under any provisions of the Bill to make it public. He said the Bill should make the disclosure a requirement.

He did not receive much support for his position, with Williams' view the only alternative on the table.

The Bill provides the circumstances under which a person may be disqualified, which include being a member of the House of Representatives; being an undischarged bankrupt; convicted of any offence involving dishonesty or moral turpitude; and is either party to, partner in a firm or director or manager of a company which to the person's knowledge is party to any government contract, unless same had been previously disclosed to the governor general.