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Resurrect COVID-19 committee, Golding appeals

Published:Wednesday | November 11, 2020 | 12:18 AM
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris speaks at a press conference at The Queen theatre in Wilmington, Delaware, on Tuesday.
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris speaks at a press conference at The Queen theatre in Wilmington, Delaware, on Tuesday.

In his maiden presentation to the House of Representatives as the new opposition leader, Mark Golding chided the Government for failing to reconstitute the COVID-19 select committee, which he said denied members of the Opposition the opportunity to discuss developments on the highly contagious virus.

Golding urged the Government to re-establish the committee swiftly, noting that sittings had stopped since the September 3 general election.

“Despite the intensification of the public-health crisis since the election, that committee has not been reconstituted. As a result, the Opposition no longer has an inclusive voice in strategising with the Government in response to the pandemic crisis,” Golding said.

Since the outbreak in Jamaica in March, 224 people have died from the virus as at November 9. The total number of cases has risen to 9,573, with 4,234 being active as at Monday.

The vexed issue of the chairmanship of select committees of Parliament was again placed on the front burner, with Golding pressing the administration to reinstate traditional opposition oversight.

He said that the prime minister’s decision to install government members to chair two of the select committees served to weaken parliamentary oversight of the executive.

Congratulating Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on their election victory in the United States, Golding prompted the Government to do more than give a nod of approval to Harris, whose father is from Jamaica.

“I urge the Government to find a suitable way of honouring her in keeping with the immense national pride and joy that her electoral success has brought to our people,” Golding said.

edmond.campbell@gleanerjm.com