‘Rubber stamp’ claim triggers war of words
Joint select committee debates JTC bill
A CLAIM by Senator Lambert Brown that the Jamaica Teaching Council (JTC) is a mere rubber stamp for the Professional Practice and Conduct Committee (PPCC), established under the JTC bill, triggered a war of words between the Opposition lawmaker and Education Minister Fayval Williams, who chairs the joint select committee of Parliament.
Under the proposed JTC law, the council regulates the practice and professional conduct of teachers, while the PPCC has responsibility for disciplinary matters relating to teachers.
Committee member Natalie Campbell Rodriques said that based on the recommendation to amend the law “it seems as if it is automatic that once the PPCC makes a decision the council accepts it. Is that the case?”
Committee chairperson Fayval Williams answered in the affirmative.
But Brown was seemingly dissatisfied with this arrangement.
“Am I to understand that just now we are saying the council is a rubber stamp for the PPCC?” he questioned.
Responding, Williams explained that the reason for establishing the PPCC is to have a body that will interrogate the facts of the case and come to a decision. She said that the council should accept the decision of the PPCC.
Brown indicated that the minister’s response confirmed that the council had to adopt the position of the PPCC, even if it came to its position improperly.
“In other words, the council has no say. It’s just a rubber stamp. That’s the concern I am raising and seeking to clarify,” he added.
Government Senator Kavan Gayle said that it was never contemplated that the council would be a rubber stamp for the PPCC.
“If the council in its view believes that the reasons submitted to it are not confined to the reasons expressly stated in the legislation, then the council can make a decision. I never thought it would be at this stage of the deliberations we would be contending that the council as established would be viewed as a mere rubber stamp,” he said.
After other committee members objected to Brown’s “rubber stamp” comment, Williams asked Brown to withdraw his comment, noting that “it belittles the work of the (joint select) committee.”
Committee member Robert Miller said he agreed with the position taken by Williams.
But Brown remained defiant, charging that the committee chair was wasting her time asking him to recant his earlier statement.
The Opposition senator said he holds strongly to his view that the council was obliged to accept the decision of the PPCC.
“So I stand firm by my decision and I am sorry I cannot withdraw an opinion which I hold sincerely and passionately,” Brown said.
In the end, Williams said that Brown should make a decision as to whether he wants to remain a member of the committee.
However, Brown shot back: “Minister it is not your call as to whether I sit on the committee. I was chosen in the Senate to be on this committee.”