THE first test of the new format for the annual Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives last week showed that while the process has significantly sped up the proceedings, it will continue to be a challenge to both Cabinet ministers and the Opposition spokespersons.

“This can’t work, change it,” a frustrated Opposition spokesman on industry, investment and commerce Karl Samuda insisted, as his 35 minutes ran out without him being able to address some of the important issue he had planned to raise.

It is obvious that the new format will increase the use of speeches, and the tabling of ministry papers by the ministers.

Leader of the House and Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Phillip Paulwell was assisted by a comprehensive book of ministry papers, which provided the details which he could not have attempted to deliver in his 45 minutes.

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Anthony Hylton ran out of time before he could complete his presentation. This left the press wondering how they could handle the issues in the last quarter of his speech which were left out, since he wasn’t able to address them.

Samuda, who has a history of speaking without prepared texts, had to do some media footworks as his presentation was badly chopped by the newly installed electronic clock, which warns the speakers just before their time is up.

It is evident that the scheduling of the debate is also running into some problems.

What was interesting was that after using up all four speakers scheduled for Tuesday, by Wednesday there were only three speakers.

Two scheduled speakers — Noel Arscott, minister of local government and community development, and Mike Henry, Opposition spokesman on Transport and Works — were cut from the list prior to the meeting, and there was only one replacement — Ronald Thwaites, minister of education.

So after the opening day, the number of speakers fell from four to three, and there is no doubt that the chopping and cutting will increase as the debate goes on into May.

It will be interesting to see how Minister of Labour, Social Security, Agriculture and Fisheries Derrick Kellier handles his four portfolios on Tuesday. That will, at least, give us some idea of how workable the new format is.

The question is, however: What is the basic purpose of the sectoral debate?

The purpose should obviously be to allow for the Cabinet ministers to inform the House, and the people, about their performance for 2014/15 and their projections for 2015/16, and for the Opposition to raise the concerns which affect the people.

Whether this basic intent will survive the House leader’s efforts to address criticisms that the debate had become boring, or not, will be better analysed at the end of the debate, which will be some time in May. But, the bottom line must remain that the media and the public are provided with all the available information on the performance of the Government during this debate, even if providing the details may seem boring, because without that it won’t be a sectoral debate any more.

*** Samuda’s gift to Hylton

Karl Samuda has been a severe critic of the ministers he has shadowed over the previous fiscal year, and he has given warning that he does not intend to ease up on his current subject, Anthony Hylton, during 2015/16.

The Opposition spokesman was particularly perturbed by the delay in starting up the Caymanas Economic Zone (CEZ) which, according to him, was ready to go under his administration in 2011, when the Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) produced proposals for a $1.2-billion funding of the project through the issue of investment bonds.

Responding to Hylton’s claim that the plans for the CEZ left behind by the previous government “amounted to nothing more than a real estate development effort, which was not implementable as crafted”, Samuda suggested that the minister was ill-prepared for the task and was engaging costly consultancies while the project has fallen behind schedule.

“Prime Minister, what your minister is engaged in is the creation of a bureaucracy that is going to starve you, because of the cost of the consultancy that is employed,” the Opposition spokesman told the Prime Minister, who was present for the debate.

“If it wasn’t so serious, I wouldn’t speak so feelingly about it, but Jamaica is at stake… growth and development cannot be left in the hand of that ministry under that minister,” stated Samuda, who the previous week had ridiculed the ministry for failing to continue a system of reporting at the ministry which was necessary for its departments and agencies.

Samuda insisted that in May 2011 the BNS had proposed a bond issue for $1.2 billion to finance the start up of the CEZ. He said that it would not have used up Government funds except for the connection with the Factories Corporation of Jamaica. The maturity of the loan was for 10 years, with an interest rate fixed for five years at 9 1/4 per cent, and thereafter floating or fixed for two years at 8.5 per cent.

As time ran out on him, Samuda took up the folder with the BNS proposal, which he had taken with him to Gordon House, and presented it to Hylton, who accepted it in amusement.

*** Sectoral Debate

continues Tuesday

The Sectoral Debate continues Tuesday with scheduled speakers being: Dr Omar Davies, minister of Transport, Works and Housing; Pearnel Charles, Opposition spokesperson on Social Security; Derrick Kellier, minister of Labour and Social Security, Agriculture.

It was expected that Opposition spokesman on Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie would have spoken, as well. But, he is now expected to speak in May, as is the case with Opposition spokesman on Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Edmund Bartlett, who had been originally scheduled to speak last week.