Last week, Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced the tabling of job descriptions (JDs) for Members of Parliament and government ministers which, if and when implemented, will at long last begin the far-reaching process of building the people’s trust and belief in the governments of Jamaica.

But let us make no bones about it, this is not an undertaking that is going to bear fruit overnight, and most certainly will not, if left to the Government alone. The entire nation will have to take this journey with the political sector.

The length of time between the prime minister’s announcement of his intention to introduce the tabling of the JDs in 2016 and the actual tabling in Parliament last week is clear indication of the difficulties to be expected in bringing them to fruition.

Underlying JDs is the notion of meeting performance targets, or key performance indicators.

No one is going to accuse any past Government of Jamaica of adhering to a culture of performance, which is the ultimate outcome.

Even if it took the outrage over the recent salary increases to parliamentarians to prod it, the Holness Administration must be commended for taking what is a serious risk in trying to hold government ministers and Members of Parliament, of both sides, to such a potentially contentious undertaking.

It is risky because once the people have measurable indicators of performance, and if they take it seriously, a political party could lose big supporters who do not meet the acceptable standards and are booted out.

Opposition Leader Mr Mark Golding, who has welcomed the tabling of the JDs, obviously recognises that the support of the Opposition will be critical to enhance buy-in from the general public. If this issue becomes a partisan political football, then the game is over. We already know how difficult it is for the Government and the Opposition to work together, even against the marauding gunmen that are destroying the country.

The announcement cannot be taken at this stage to mean that all ministers and Members of Parliament are in agreement. The underperformers know themselves and don’t want to see any change in the status quo. Some will want to continue to rely on the age-old practice of vote-buying, paying school fees, attending funerals, and doling out money to constituents.

Others will not like the idea of subjecting themselves to an accountability framework, including standard periodic reports to Parliament on the work carried out in their constituencies, the use of public resources, as well as attendance and participation of in the House and the like.

The citizens of this country will, however, be the deserving beneficiaries of a higher quality of performance which can lead to improved access to education, health care, and welfare; greater availability of water; reducing the cost of electricity; better roads; improved judicial system; and, critically, greater resources to fight the monster of crime.

It is our hope that the Government truly believes in the process which it has started and will follow it through to the end, all the while ensuring that it is moving in lockstep with the people.