PNP raises concerns over changes to tabling of parliamentary questions

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) has raised concerns over what it describes as a departure from established parliamentary practice following a ruling by the Speaker of the House regarding the tabling of questions submitted by Opposition members. In a statement on Wednesday, the party said questions submitted by Leader of Opposition Business Phillip Paulwell and Opposition Member of Parliament Peter Bunting were not tabled during the sitting of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. Instead, the members were reportedly advised that the questions would have to await the next sitting. “This is a departure from the established practice, under which the Opposition submits questions to the speaker and the clerk on the day before a sitting, for consideration and tabling at the next immediate sitting,” the PNP said. “While the Opposition accepts the authority of the Speaker to determine whether questions are in order, Mr Paulwell notes that Standing Order 15(2) does not prescribe any minimum period that must pass before a question can be tabled. Applied strictly, the Standing Orders present no impediment to questions being considered and tabled promptly once submitted,” the statement added. Paulwell stressed that the question process is an important means by which the Opposition holds the Government to account. “Many questions concern matters requiring urgent answers. An additional delay before tabling, followed by the period allowed for the minister to respond, significantly weakens the effectiveness of the process and the ability of Opposition members to carry out their constitutional and parliamentary role of scrutinising the executive. The Opposition is therefore concerned that the new approach has the effect of diminishing its role,” the PNP said. The Opposition said it will continue to submit questions on the day before each sitting, in keeping with longstanding convention, and expects that questions found to be in order will be tabled at the next immediate sitting. Paulwell has also formally requested clarification on the basis for the change and called for the approach to be reconsidered. Among the questions are those seeking updates on the Government’s renewable energy procurement process, including when the last tender for utility-scale renewable energy was issued, the outcome of that process and when another tender is expected to be issued.