On August 6 this year we celebrate 60 years of Independence. My thoughts are on what’s next for our nation, especially our governance structure?

Recently we heard the utterances of Minister Marlene Malahoo Forte about changes to the bail structure that, in my non-legal opinion, is infringing on the independent judiciary’s role as prescribed in the constitution.

I am reminded that changes to suit a particular situation hurriedly is never a solution. Most troubling is an idea like this will certainly be carried further in the lust for power.

We did not initially opt for Independence as a nation back then. The Government at the time, under Norman Manley, preferred a federated West Indies. Political power reared its ugly head then as Alexander Bustamante played politics well to the then uninformed, who at that point included over 60 per cent illiterates. Ignorance and lack of foresight divided the Caribbean. Both Jamaica and Trinidad voted to withdraw by referendum in each island that called for Federation vs Independence. The people in both islands selected Independence, thereby killing the Federation. In retrospect, it is one of the reasons for our collective struggles.

Manley could have taken Jamaica into Independence. He had time under his term. He, however, after negotiating for our Independence, because of his statesman beliefs, called an early general election. Jamaicans would be able to decide who they wanted to lead them into the newly independent Jamaica. A move I say would not be executed in similarly statesmanlike fashion as Manley in this day and age.

Since our Independence was not planned, I believe our system of government needs to be modernised.

I believe Prime Minister Andrew Holness used horrible taste to announce his Government’s intention to not maintain the Queen as head of State at a function during her grandson’s visit. I agree with the well-overdue move; however, the discussions must not be rushed, but rather well thought out and not politicised, with contributions from every sector.

My preference is an executive-style, elected president. An elected Senate — one representative per parish — and a population threshold figure in which the parishes that reach such numbers are assigned an extra Senate seat.

The size of Parliament should be decreased, wherein each Member of Parliament (MP) should have a larger population to represent. MPs and senators must be full-time and not be eligible to be ministers.

The executive president should have entrenched departments/ministries with no more than 13.

We should dismantle parish councils and make three county councils — Cornwall, Middlesex, and Surrey, each parish represented with an amount based on population. Local municipalities must be reserved for metropolitan areas with elected mayors, like in Trelawny the Falmouth Municipality should cover from Stewart Castle to Greenwood East to North Daniel Town, Hague, Rock, Martha Brae, Holland. Council members of no more than seven should be in place, with a mayor having veto power.

Within a year, under three county commissions to be chaired by former chief justices, citizens and civil society organisation must be given opportunities to present submissions. After all, three county subcommittees will meet and recommend the new constitution.

This must be followed by a referendum to the people of Jamaica for the majority’s selection. The aim is to have mean, lean, and functional governance. A provision for impeachment for all elected officials at every level must be entrenched in the constitution.

Included in any new constitution must be term limits; no more than five-year terms.

Other provisions should include declaration of assets and recall of elected officials including impeachment.

Finally, the Diaspora does not need Senate seats or voting rights.

In 2009, in a submission on Diaspora voting to the joint select committee in Parliament, on behalf of the US Northeast Region, in my research preparations it was noted that the provision for parliamentary representation from the Diaspora is few. An organised Diaspora Council, free from governmental interference, could be given annually to make presentations on specific subject areas. My fellow Diasporians used the argument of “we contribute to the gross domestic product (GDP) as equal to tourism”, but never admit that 90 per cent of their contributions/remittances go to loved ones.

Another point that the US allows Diaspora voting is farther from the truth, as it is absentee ballots, whereby citizens are allowed to vote from a congressional district. Bear in mind among these important aspects is that there are as many Jamaicans living outside as within. So, in truth, those who live abroad will determine who runs Jamaica. Of note, my American-born children will also have a right to determine who becomes councillor, MP, and by extension prime minister.

This is a tall and daunting order, but necessary to get things right to move forward in the next decade and beyond.

Patrick A Beckford, OD, is a Diasporian living in New Jersey, USA. Send comments to the Jamaica Observer or pbeckf01@yahoo.com.