Milestone event facilitated through use of remote conferencing platform, Zoom and broadcast live on PBCJ 

The Jamaican Senate made history on Friday (June 4) when four senators were allowed to participate remotely in the proceedings of the sitting.

The meeting, which was a hybrid of in-person and virtual participation, was made possible because of recent amendments to the Senate Standing Orders to allow senators to participate in meetings of the Senate using Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). The senators who participated virtually in the day’s proceedings were not permitted to form a part of the quorum, present a Bill or motion, or vote, in keeping with the provisions of the Constitution.

The milestone event was facilitated through the use of the remote conferencing platform, Zoom and broadcast live on the Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica cable channel and through its Facebook and YouTube platforms.

On May 21, Our Today reported that, following deliberations of the Standing Orders Committee of Parliament, the Senate approved changes that now allow senators to participate in meetings of the Senate using ICT.

However, senators accessing this facility will be restricted to taking part in debates, asking and answering questions and contributing to discussions. But, in keeping with current provisions of the Constitution, members of the Upper House of Parliament participating virtually will not be permitted to vote, present a Bill or motion or form a part of the quorum of the Senate. 

This development comes in the wake of COVID-19 restrictions and follows a decision to allow Senate committees to meet virtually. Senate President Tom Tavares-Finson described the move as “a marriage of the digital age and parliamentary tradition”.

For her part, Donna Scott-Mottley, opposition senator, remarked that “the decision of the Senate to introduce a hybrid form of sitting where some members will be present in Gordon House and others will, in certain circumstances, be able to attend virtually, is progressive and forward thinking.