Leader of the PAM, Lindsay F. Grant announced during the party’s convention that his Deputy would be tabling in Parliament, the Integrity in Public Life Act and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), beginning with the former.
A previous interview between Hamilton and MiyVue.com revealed that the PAM has intentions of tabling the Integrity in Public Life Act either during the next sitting of Parliament or the one following.
Prior to Grant’s announcement, the Prime Minister of the Federation, Dr. Denzil L. Douglas when asked about the bill and when it would be raised for consideration, indicated that it does not currently constitute part of his government’s legislative agenda.
This publication questioned Hamilton about the likelihood of the bill being passed into law especially with the opposition in the House being in the minority and he explained that success of the bill depends on one’s perspective.
“Perhaps if I am guided by the statement of Prime Minister Douglas, that that is not on the agenda right now, I will say perhaps it will not meet any success in parliament. If I am guided by the fact that the electorate desires that it be in place, then certainly it should be something that should pass because if the electorate is disappointed by the fact that persons voted against a bill that has encouraged transparency and accountability, then they ought to let those parliamentarians know in no uncertain terms, they will not be returned to parliament. So it depends on what’s guiding the whole thing.”
The Parliamentary Representative for Constituency No. 8 further explained that in tabling the bill, the PAM would be sending a clear message to present and would-be politicians.
“It means that when we are going to introduce, we have to engage the entire public as much as possible with what we are doing so that the message would go loud and clear to those who are current politicians and future politicians. And they will have to respond.
“Let’s face it, we are not in parliament because of our own ability and because of our own doing, we are back in parliament because we have been accepted by people who voted for us and the people who voted for us – which means the people who favoured us with their vote – can also disappoint us with their vote so that if the people in the country say that is what they want, who is a politician to say that is not what we want?”