Allan Taylor: Keeping parliamentary procedures orderly for over 30 years

Fresh out of high school in the early 1990s, Allan Taylor applied for a job in Parliament. His father worked as a sergeant of police at Gordon House and heard of a vacant position for a parliamentary orderly and encouraged his son to submit an application for the post.

Taylor shared with The Gleaner that Parliament was the last place he had envisioned working because he remembered watching Budget debates on television and thought the deliberations were long and boring.

Notwithstanding his reservations about working in the legislature, he applied for the job and was recruited as an orderly.

Taylor started working in 1992 when political giants such as Michael Manley, Edward Seaga and Hugh Lawson Shearer were still serving as members of the House of Representatives.

It was a “wow” moment for Taylor, still a teenager, who was obviously elated to be in the presence of the then Prime Minister Manley and the former Prime Minister Seaga.

Taylor admitted that when he had to carry out tasks for the senior parliamentary leaders at the time, he was nervous, not wanting to make errors in terms of the directives that were given.

However, he noted that the then Clerk to the Houses of Parliament, Headley Deans, helped to build his confidence by providing guidance on the duties he was asked to carry out and assured him that he had the capability to get the job done.

End of an era

Taylor said in his first year as an orderly, he did not know he would have witnessed the end of an era when Michael Manley announced his retirement from representational politics in 1992 and bade farewell to his parliamentary colleagues.

The emotions that gripped members of the House are still fresh in Taylor’s mind as he recounted Manley giving his farewell speech and making that slow and final walk, pausing at the door to wave to his colleagues as he departed the Chamber of Gordon House for the last time.

Taylor felt he was fortunate to be in touching distance of a colossal figure whose parliamentary colleagues on both sides of the political divide coalesced to show respect and regard to one who had made an indelible mark on the political landscape of his country.

Other peaks Taylor observed while serving as an orderly were the farewell moments surrounding the departures of both Seaga and later former Prime Minister P J Patterson when they retired, ending their innings in Gordon House, having served in the legislature for decades. Taylor recalled that the chorus of accolades and goodwill expressed by their colleagues was palpable.

“It is a credit to the Jamaican Parliament as we were able to see a lot of love shown to these leaders of Parliament by their colleagues on both sides,” he said, adding that they appreciated the contributions made by their contemporaries even though they did not belong to the same political party.

As chief orderly, Taylor’s job is multi-faceted and his duties help to facilitate the activities on the floor of Parliament.

“During the sittings of Parliament, we have various documents, ministry papers, annual reports from various ministries, among others, that are dispatched to Parliament to be tabled. We ensure that these documents are distributed after being tabled.”

Taylor points out that orderlies from time to time assist lawmakers in sourcing information from Hansard - the records of Parliament - for use during parliamentary debates.

The orderly, according to Taylor, also plays an important role as liaison on the floor of the House by exchanging both written and verbal messages between parliamentarians.

An important highlight in Taylor’s career was his elevation to act as marshall to the Houses of Parliament. Taylor recounts the first day he carried the Mace - the symbol of royal authority without which neither Houses can meet or pass laws - holding it on his shoulder and announcing the entry of the Speaker.

“Mi practice to make sure I project when announcing ‘THE SPEAKER’ and also tried to demonstrate a more militant walk,” Taylor explained while breaking out into laughter.

Taylor has also worked in Parliament’s library and did a stint as facilities manager at Gordon House.

He has played a pivotal role over the years in helping to facilitate the cut and thrust of parliamentary debates and the passing of laws in Jamaica’s legislature.

Today, he will receive the Badge of Honour for Long and Faithful Service during the National Honours and Awards investiture ceremony being held at the National Indoor Sports Centre in St Andrew for his decades-old contribution to Parliament.

“It is good to be recognised because you work hard over the years and every day you carry out your tasks and try to put your best foot forward. It is really nice for someone to see your work and appreciate it.”

edmond.campbell@gleanerjm.com