The Gavel

MEMBERS OF a joint select committee of Parliament examining the recommendations of the Abortion Policy Review Group last week locked horns during their deliberations over whether foreigners should be permitted to make oral presentations on abortion in Gordon House.

A fierce national debate between pro- and anti-abortion activists will begin later this month when the committee starts hearing from a number of groups and individuals.

The committee had invited the public to make submissions on the controversial subject, but while reviewing the list of submissions, it was discovered that several non-nationals had sent their proposals to Parliament.

If foreigners were allowed to appear before the joint select committee at Gordon House to participate in the national parley on abortion, this would be a first, at least in recent history, for non-Jamaicans to possibly influence local legislation in a direct manner.

Member of the committee and attorney-at-law Laurie Broderick and Senator Sandrea Falconer were impatient with the suggestion for foreigners to make an input in the discussion in Gordon House.

Lisa Hanna, St Ann South East member of parliament, parted company with her colleagues on the issue, saying it would be useful for persons from other jurisdictions to share valuable information on a matter that they had explored extensively.

Myopic points

The views expressed by MP Broderick and Senator Falconer are myopic, as the critical arguments for and against abortion have transcended national borders and, therefore, the opinions advanced by Jamaicans may, one way or the other, resonate with positions taken by persons of other nationalities.

Broderick warned against a liberal approach in fashioning legislation. His point of departure was a reference to the upcoming debate on the death penalty, questioning whether the country would allow non-nationals to make submissions on this issue.

While no one can dismiss the latter concern of Broderick, he should know that the current parliamentary system gives committee members the latitude of accepting or rejecting proposals through a democratic process.

The report

Indeed, at the end of its deliberations, the committee formulates a report to be submitted to the Houses of Parliament for debate. If committee members fail to reach consensus on far-reaching proposals, there is the option of crafting a minority report setting out areas of divergence.

The arguments for and against abortion in Jamaica are not coloured by party political considerations, nor are those views the preserve of an American or European perspective. In this regard, parliamentarians will have to carefully review the contrasting submissions, whether from foreigners or locals, and craft an appropriate piece of legislation that is best suited for the Jamaican situation.

Committee Chairman Rudyard Spencer should be commended for ruling that both Jamaicans and non-nationals would be given the opportunity to appear before the joint select committee.