Revamped Houses of Parliament website promises greater access

Members of the public will have improved access to parliamentary and legislative information through the new website of the Houses of Parliament.

Speaking during a recent JIS Think Tank, Speaker of the House of Representatives Juliet Holness said the new website offers significant improvements in how users can access information. She said that the website, the domain name, and the link have not changed.

“What has changed is how one would now navigate through the website [and] the volume of information that is available,” she stated. Holness said the website is intended to provide a central location where stakeholders can access legislative information across government, including legislation passed in previous years.

She noted that this will be particularly useful to members of the public, as well as the media, educators and researchers seeking information on legislation and the work of Parliament.

“Having one space that you are able to go to for all your legislative needs is of importance, and we are happy to be able to update… on our new website,” Holness stated.

She said the improvements made by Jamaica have, in turn, generated interest among parliamentary representatives from across the region, who have examined the website with a view to adopting some of its features. Holness said the interest reflects the opportunities for regional parliaments to learn from each other as they seek to improve accountability, transparency and public access to information.

Meanwhile, Clerk to the Houses of Parliament, Colleen Lowe, informed that the new website was also developed to ensure easier accessibility for persons with disabilities. She further indicated that the development of the website benefited from collaboration with other parliaments, particularly the parliament of Trinidad and Tobago.

“We were able to get our inspiration from the parliament in Trinidad, and they have provided a lot of support to us in terms of mentorship and sharing information,” Lowe said, adding that the websites of the parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada were also examined for ideas and best practices.

The new Houses of Parliament website was slated to be officially launched during the upcoming 48th Regional Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Caribbean, Americas and Atlantic Region, being held in Ocho Rios, St Ann, from August 30 to September 5.