MPs see need for bigger Parliament

Without more members of Parliament, the whole system of accountability will fall through the cracks, MPs concluded. It was also felt that because MPs were paid so little they were forced to find full- time employment elsewhere and this compounded difficulties of the small number of MPs on these Parliamentary Committees.

All MPs agreed that Parliament also needed more support staff and particularly professional staff to analyse reports coming to the Legislature. This was critical to the effective functioning of the various committees, they contended.

The conference is being facilitated by Maurice Vellacott and Derek Lee, both Members of Parliament in the House of Commons in Canada.

Representatives from Scotland, the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries will also be sitting in on the sessions.

Vellacott told Newsday that it was advisable that Parliamenta-rians be paid a “satisfactory remuneration” to ensure they focus fully on the jobs at hand rather than conduct private practices as well.

He cited the fact that MPs who also served as Cabinet Ministers would more likely than not hinder the process as most of them are “sworn to secrecy.”

Opposition Senator Wade Mark accused Cabinet of not treating the Parliament with the respect it deserved. A prime reason for this, he said, was that “Prime Minister was fast becoming an Emperor in our Republic.”

Mark reiterated the UNC’s commitment to constitutional reform, citing parliament as one of the areas most in need of reform. He called for Cabinet to be made more accountable to the legislature as a step towards achieving this.

“At the moment, the Executive has the Parliament like the Prime Minister has the election date, in his backpocket,” he said.

While Government MPs and Independent Senators who were present expressed optimism at the outcome of the retreat, Mark said that the suggestions made will most likely “end up in the form of a House paper which... will eventually gather dust on somebody’s shelf.” He described the conference as “basically a talk shop.”