The ECJ paid tribute to Dr. Davis by the reading of a special Citation
and presentation of a wood carving, commending him for over 25 years of
outstanding work in the Civil Service.
In recognising his stellar
contribution to the bauxite industry, community development and the
modernisation of the civil service, ECJ Chairman Professor Errol Miller
saluted Dr. Carlton Davis for "the acuity of his intellect,
perspicacity and high quality of public service rendered to his native
land."
Dr. Davis was among scores of persons honoured by the ECJ in
a glitzy Long Service Awards Ceremony yesterday (April 8), at the
Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. One hundred and fifty persons employed to the
Electoral Office of Jamaica islandwide for between 10 and 42 years,
were also honoured by the Commission with trophies, plaques and special
prizes. Among the Awardees were Florence Bernard, who gave 42 years of
service, Beverley Marshalleck, 40 years, Cherry Cummings 38 years and
Ruby Higgins 33 years. Director of Elections Danville Walker, as well
as Deputy Directors Orrette Fisher, Earl Simpson and Valerie Smith were
among the long-service awardees.
Special awards also went to PROComm
for its13 years of outstanding Public Relations and Advertising
services to the EOJ; and Press Box Printers for its printing services
to the EOJ.
Honouree Dr. Carlton Davis who was also the guest
speaker praised Jamaica for having made significant strides in its
system of governance, since independence. "We have achieved much", he
declared, while pointing out that the island has a "strong culture of
democratic governance." He lauded the ECJ for having done a "marvellous
job" in strengthening the island’s electoral system beyond the belief
and expectation of most persons.
Among the other positives of
governance in Jamaica, which the Cabinet Secretary singled out were:
the opening of the proceedings of the Parliamentary Committees to the
public, the strengthening of the role of the Opposition in the affairs
of the State, the enactment of a Corruption Prevention Act, the
enactment of a Access to Information Act as well as Post Cabinet Press
Briefings. He also had high praises for the country’s independent
judiciary and the involvement of civil society in the formulation and
evaluation of Jamaica’s socio-economic policies.
Dr. Davis however
reiterated the need for reforms to the constitution to be given
priority attention. "One thing I would argue that great urgency be
given to addressing what is certainly the most important factor in our
governance, the Constitution; and specifically for the Government and
the Opposition to give some priority to completing the work of the
Constitution," Dr. Davis advised.
The Head of the Civil Service is
of the view that the Constitutional issues which require urgent
discussion and action by the government and opposition were part of
recommendations highlighted by the Joint Select Committee on
Constitutional Reform in 1993 & 1994. They include: the
replacement of the Queen as head of state by a President who would be a
Jamaican, the entrenchment of the Electoral Commission in the
Constitution, the incorporation of a Charter of Rights and Freedoms
(which was recently submitted to parliament) and the removal of the
entitlement of a Commonwealth citizen to be a member of the legislature
or to be appointed to Ministerial Office.
Dr. Davis has also
proposed that "urgent consideration" be given to reviewing the process
by which Permanent Secretaries are appointed. He says at the moment
"the Prime Minister has a fairly limited engagement" in appointing
Permanent Secretaries, as outlined in Section126 (2) and 126(3) of the
Constitution. Currently, Permanent Secretaries are appointed by the
Governor General, acting on the advice of the Public Service Commission.
"It
is worthwhile for both the Government and Opposition in Jamaica to look
at this with a view to arriving at a formulation which will make the
authority in regard to appointments to these offices beyond doubt," the
Cabinet Secretary commented.
Last evening’s ECJ Awards ceremony had
in attendance a wide range of representatives from the civil service,
private sector and the major political parties.
