Educational Video
Bill Details
Overview
Impeachment is the process by which a legislative body (for e.g. a Parliament) formally levels charges against a high official of government. Impeachment does not automatically mean removal from office. It is the beginning of the process of laying a charge against a public official for a serious offence in connection with their job.
This Act would allow citizens to initiate the process of removing a Parliamentarian from his/her job due to loss of public confidence in that public official.
Since in 1990, successive Jamaican governments have committed to establishing a fair and democratic process for the impeachment of public officials who commit wrongdoing. In 2011, a law to create an impeachment process was tabled in Parliament, but it has never been placed on Parliament’s agenda. This law, the Constitution (Amendment) (Impeachment) Bill (2011), provides for the impeachment of Members of Parliament (MPs) and Senators who commit wrongdoing (as defined by the Bill).
The Prime Minister of Jamaica, committed to re-tabling this bill within the first 100 days of his assuming power as leader of the Government.
On April 27, 2021 the Opposition Leader, Mark Golding M.P. introduced the Bill as a Private Member’s Bill in the Lower House and on April 28, 2021 the Bill was tabled for debate.
Introduced: 04/27/2021
First Tabled: 04/28/2021
Status: In Progress
Unfortunately our Timeline is not displayed on smaller resolutions.
Timeline
Proposed/Introduced
Opposition Leader MP Mark Golding amended the 2011 draft and retables the Bill as a Private Member’s Bill
JAMP Methodology “JAMP Score” What does this mean? Important inclusion, clarify how scores are arrived at and identifies relevant laws (e.g. those guiding work of a Commission), that help to calculate a score. Clear, easy to follow, also helps to ensure JAMP’s objectivity.
How a Bill becomes law? 6 steps shown with use of animated graphics, clear, lively, understandable.
Re Constitution (Amendment) (Impeachment) – access to relevant bill, explanation of timeline, notes guiding Bill help to demonstrate process, how long it takes or is taking, the public can then raise questions of why is this taking so long
This will never happen, the power captured or residing in the cabinet is too sacred for any to create any mechanism to loose that privilege, the great reluctance of any ruling party , to jettison any MP, found in any malfeasance, establish the principled reluctance to create any form of impeachment. not for elected or appointed official. NIDS or the creation of another centralized body domiciled in Kingston is for easier or more desirable.
G’Day Maxwell. Be encouraged that this was a bill drafted under a Prime Minister’s instructions in 2011. It came out of a Parliamentary Committee meeting whose members were MPs from both parties and they agreed to it. None of this was being driven by citizen demand. So one can only imagine what would happen if it were. I am sure our forefathers thougth SLAVERY would NEVER END. Why would the masters EVER release them. But it did happen. It is more up to you and every Jamaican. If WE all decided we needed it and made it known, you’d be… Read more »
I will accept that JAMP has done its due diligence before highlighting that the PM committed to retabling the bill within 100 days of assuming power as leader of government.
The days of promise for comfort are gone. I strongly believe that it would delight our citizenry to recognize our representatives in government who follow through on their promises.
The PM should have facilitated the advancement of this bill and thank the MP that has tabled it.