WORKSHOP D - SCRUTINY OF FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
Though he said such co-operation
had existed in Barbados but had failed due to poor funding and inadequate staff, he contended that such an exchange programme and interaction among committees of foreign affairs in different Parliaments still remains the most viable weapon in building parliamentary relations and effective partnerships and scrutiny.
Close parliamentary involvement Sen. Raynell Andreychuck of Canada commended the initiative to address this important aspect of legislative functions but noted that the topic should be made to read “Ensuring Adequate Parliamentary Involvement in Foreign Affairs”, noting that all aspects of national policy have an international dimension. She argued strongly that the
evolution of technology has reduced the world to a global village providing a platform for citizens’ involvement on issues of governance. Generally, there is increased trade negotiations, human rights agreements and political consciousness among citizens such that they now demand accountability for their elected representatives. These factors have expanded the role of Parliamentarians and increased their responsibilities. She recommended that there
should be consultations between the executive and Parliaments on issues involving negotiations that will lead to treaties and actions. She also added that scrutiny and review should be ongoing processes in the Legislature. She further recommended that for there to be effective co-operation between the executive and the Legislature on foreign affairs, Parliamentarians should be invited to participate in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) so that issues involving the Legislature could be discussed and resolved in an amicable way. Hon. Michael A. Peart, MP,
Speaker of Jamaica’s House of Representatives, noted that the topic was critical to parliamentary democracy as he stated that the subject area was exclusive to the
This page: Delegates from Bermuda at the session; Opposite page: Discussion leaders Hon. Michael Peart, MP, (left) and Sen. the Hon. Raynell Andreychuk (right).
military and diplomats before the advent of democracy. In his view, Parliament through its oversight responsibility now serves as the watchdog over all activities of the executive. In the case of Jamaica, he noted
that parliamentary scrutiny is an emerging trend which is steadily taking its roots in parliamentary activities. He submitted that globalization has increased the political awareness of citizens and narrowed the historical imbalance between the executive and the Legislature, thereby improving parliamentary oversight. He acknowledged that oversight not only contributes to the democratization of the whole governmental process but allows Parliament to control, influence and monitor the government decision- making process. He recommended that governments should seek parliamentary approval on the deployment of military forces to any external situation and
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that such approval should be made a constitutional matter. Parliamentarians, he noted, should consider a reduction in the period of their annual recess to cope with challenges or developments arising in their absence. He further suggested that the
executive arm of government should submit to the Legislature regular reports on foreign policy issues. He called on the Legislature to develop a working relationship with non- governmental organizations as a way of engaging civil society organizations in foreign policy issues.
Power and resources for scrutiny Hon. Wade Mark, MP, of Trinidad and Tobago noted that one of the challenges facing the Legislature was its lack of capacity and legislative independence to effectively check the executive. He averred that weak Parliaments would not be able to discharge their parliamentary duties like their counterparts in developed
countries and asked how these weak Parliaments could be strengthened to scrutinize policies of government. Mr Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, MP,
of New Zealand advocated that a process should be entrenched to require the endorsement of Parliaments of foreign policy issues before legislation. He further suggested that a select committee should come up with a framework to determine the impact of foreign policy issues on the citizens. Rt Hon. Lord Foulkes of Cumnock
(United Kingdom) noted that the Legislature needed to have effective control of all aspects of policies and not just foreign affairs. He stated that before any government sends troops overseas, it must seek the approval of Parliament and concluded that Parliament in the U.K. enjoys effective scrutiny in all aspects of policies. Mr Sim Tong Him, MP, of
Malaysia noted that there was a lack of adequate parliamentary scrutiny in Malaysia and that Parliament is a