Paulwell challenges Green over refusal to refer Parliament staff concerns to House Committee

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Leader of Opposition Business in the House of Representatives, Phillip Paulwell, has challenged a decision by Minister Floyd Green not to refer concerns about staff morale, high turnover and management practices within Parliament to the House Committee. In a letter to Green, Paulwell rejected the minister’s position that the issues raised in earlier correspondence fell outside the committee’s mandate, describing his interpretation of its responsibilities as overly restrictive. “I disagree with your conclusion that the matters that I had raised in my letter dated September 29, 2026 do not fall for consideration by the House Committee,” Paulwell wrote, adding, “Your view of the mandate of that Committee is extremely narrow, and is counterproductive.” Paulwell argued that concerns about low staff morale, high employee turnover, alleged high-handed management practices and the resulting damage to Parliament’s reputation were directly relevant to the committee’s responsibility for the comfort and convenience of members. “The issues at hand, such as low morale of the staff, the efficiency of the staffing arrangements being negatively affected by high staff turnover, the allegations of high-handedness within the management of the system, and the general degrading of the image of the Parliament as a result of the foregoing, are all impacting the ‘comfort and convenience’ of members,” he stated. The Opposition parliamentarian also pointed out that some of the concerns had previously surfaced before the Public Accounts Committee following an adverse report by the Auditor General’s Department on the affairs of Parliament. He further warned that the matters could be referred to the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC), which he said also has the authority to investigate the concerns. “Also, as you will appreciate, it is a matter that the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee would also have jurisdiction to investigate, should you decline to expand your unduly narrow view of the scope of the House Committee,” Paulwell wrote. He urged Green to reconsider his position before the matter is escalated to another parliamentary committee. “I urge your reflection on the decision you have made in this matter, before it is taken elsewhere,” Paulwell said. The correspondence follows a September 29 letter from Paulwell raising concerns about the administration of Parliament. Green’s response, also dated September 29, was received by email on October 5, according to Paulwell. READ: House committee cannot be used to examine employment contracts and staff resignations — Green