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Concerns about wording and structure dominated Wednesday morning's sitting of the Joint Select Parliamentary Committee deliberating on the Independent Commission of Investigations Act 2008.
The Bill comes after nine years of extensive deliberations on the issue of law enforcement and human rights abuses by agents of the state.
Dr. Carolyn Gomes, head of human rights group, Jamaicans for Justice, charged that the Bill compared to similar legislation in other countries, specifically South Africa and Ireland, is long, convoluted and redundant.
"Another example can be found in the interpretation section which is replete with redundancies and circular definitions. For example ‘Chairman' means the chairman of the commission, in the context of this bill what else could it mean...is it possible to do this in a more simple manner. Redundancies make the legislation cumbersome, difficult for the average person to read and to understand and therefore untrustworthy," said Dr. Gomes.
She argued that simplifying the document could better insure public buy-in as the average man would be able to understand the wording and philosophy behind the Bill.
Turning to the composition of the proposed commission to investigate abuses, Dr. Gomes questioned whether it was really necessary to have six full time commissioners who could end up to be a drain on the public purse.
She also took issue with the proposed benefits for the commissioners who will be appointed for only three years.
The Bill in its current state allows the commissioners to collect pension benefits.
Dr. Gomes suggested that the committee redraft specific sections of the Bill to ensure simplicity and clarity.
The Bill comes after nine years of extensive deliberations on the issue of law enforcement and human rights abuses by agents of the state.
Dr. Carolyn Gomes, head of human rights group, Jamaicans for Justice, charged that the Bill compared to similar legislation in other countries, specifically South Africa and Ireland, is long, convoluted and redundant.
"Another example can be found in the interpretation section which is replete with redundancies and circular definitions. For example ‘Chairman' means the chairman of the commission, in the context of this bill what else could it mean...is it possible to do this in a more simple manner. Redundancies make the legislation cumbersome, difficult for the average person to read and to understand and therefore untrustworthy," said Dr. Gomes.
She argued that simplifying the document could better insure public buy-in as the average man would be able to understand the wording and philosophy behind the Bill.
Turning to the composition of the proposed commission to investigate abuses, Dr. Gomes questioned whether it was really necessary to have six full time commissioners who could end up to be a drain on the public purse.
She also took issue with the proposed benefits for the commissioners who will be appointed for only three years.
The Bill in its current state allows the commissioners to collect pension benefits.
Dr. Gomes suggested that the committee redraft specific sections of the Bill to ensure simplicity and clarity.