Hooray for Dookeran

THE EDITOR: Hooray to UNC MP Winston Dookeran for his contribution during the 2003/2004 Budget debate. He made an impassioned presentation that got the points over on the flaws of the Government’s Budget, but without all the racial overtones. I commend him and believe that other members of both parties could take an example from him.

He sounds like the only member who was factual and kept out of the racial “tit-for-tat” that was so prevalent among the other MP’s of the two parties. This included catcalls and some of the most disgraceful behaviour of “big men” and women too. These are the people’s representatives, who are supposed to be shining examples to the general citizenry, especially our children. What a disgrace! I guess these people have never heard of “we can disagree with each other, without being disagreeable.”  It is such a shame that both parties are using (and causing further) racial tensions with their rhetoric from the floor of parliament. All this in an attempt to “stir up” their political bases, and for what?

It was only two or three weeks ago that the President and the Minister who invoked the prayer at the start of the parliamentary session asked and prayed for members to conduct themselves as shining examples to the public and especially to the youths. I guess they were all asleep during those pleas. Because it seems that neither side of the aisle has taken the words of these gentlemen to heart with their recent outbursts on the floor. I guess we have a lot more of this kind of ruckus to look forward to for the rest of the year. Again, what a shame!

KELVIN C JAMES, Sr
Port-of-Spain