Proportional representation is the answer

THE EDITOR: I wish to join issue with Prime Minister Patrick Manning for rejecting Proportional Representation, making the inept excuse that it will cause racial strife in the country.

Nothing is further from the truth. It is the First Past The Post System that fosters racial strife and tension. It is so designed to add additional seats to the winning party and causes electorate’s votes to be wasted. In Proportional Representation, the whole country is considered to be one constituency. The parties contesting the elections have a slate of candidates from whom they will choose, based on the percentage of votes the party receives. For example, if A Party wins 50 percent of the votes, 18 seats will be allocated; B Party 30 percent — 11 seats will be allocated and C Party 20 percent — 7 seats will be allocated. In the Proportional Representation system every vote is counted, none is wasted.

In this system therefore, there will be a broader reflection of the whole population rather than two thirds of the electorate. Permit me to remind Mr Manning that during the twelfth century, there was animosity between the Roman Catholics and the Protestants of Southern Ireland. Mr William Whitelaw of the British government introduced Proportional Representation as a system of elections and that pacified the animosity. If we are really interested in building a better harmonious and united people, Proportional Representation is the solution.

HARRY P T CHARLIE
Princes Town