Saved by the bell: No-shows, late arrivals hamper work of parliamentary committee

 Daraine Luton, Senior Staff Reporter

GUESTS OF a parliamentary committee were made to endure a one-hour wait at Gordon House yesterday because the three-member quorum required for the start of the meeting was not in place.

The meeting of the joint select committee on private bills only got going when Opposition Senator Marlene Malahoo-Forte walked in at 3 p.m. for the 2 p.m. start. She was followed into the chamber shortly after by Government Senator Mark Golding.

The late arrival of the members did not appear to bother committee chairman Lloyd B. Smith and Senator Wensworth Skeffery, who were relieved when they got company.

"Saved by the bell!" Smith said as Malahoo-Forte walked into the chamber.

All this time, representatives of two church groups - the Power of Faith Ministries and Baptist Mid-Missions - were made to wait for the start of the committee meeting.

"The Baptist Mid-Missions people, for example, came from Mandeville, and as you know, when they come with their legal counsel, there is a cost factor involved, so I am glad that we were able to expedite both matters in good time," Smith said at the end of the meeting as he thanked the senators for showing up.

After waiting for an hour for the meeting to start, the Baptist Mid-Missions group concluded their business in 10 minutes.

Earlier, Skeffery had been working his cellular phone, trying to get members to confirm if they were on their way, but he would repeatedly report to Smith that he was having no luck.

HOPING THINGS IMPROVE

"As chairman, I am a bit concerned that we are not getting the level of attendance that is necessary at these committee meetings, and I sincerely hope that this will improve," Smith said.

"I intend to speak with both House leaders on this because I think we need, as parliamentarians, to show some amount of interest in the people's business," he added.

The Private Bills Committee comprises 15 members, nine of whom are members of parliament (MPs). Of those MPs, only Smith turned up for the sitting yesterday.

Of the four meetings held since last February, the chairman is the only MP with a perfect record.

Dr Andrew Wheatley, Mike Henry, and Dr Winston Green have not attended a single meeting.

Dr Dayton Campbell hardly has a better record, attending only one meeting, while Andrew Hylton, Raymond Pryce, Hugh Buchanan, and Marisa Dalrymple Philibert have attended two meetings each.

Among the senators, Floyd Morris, who ceased being a member of the committee after he was appointed president of the Senate, attended three meetings, the same as Golding. Navel Clarke attended one meeting, while Tom Tavares-Finson is yet to show.

Skeffery has never missed a meeting.

Malahoo-Forte, who hosts a daytime talk show on the Gleaner-owned Power 106, said the fact that most meetings are held in the mornings makes it nearly impossible for her to attend.

She said she may have to excuse herself from the committee if meetings cannot be scheduled for afternoons.

Yesterday's meeting was her first.