No respect for Parliament

The Editor: Please permit me some space in your newspapers to address the recurring problems of aggression, lack of consensus and work, the non willingness to agree and the unhealthy climate through discourse that has been pervasive for decades in both Houses of our Parliament. Obviously these errant behaviour patterns have been passed down to our citizens right from the top and we continue ad infinitum, to find ways to quell this national ignominity. To say that this happens sometimes with far worse consequences in other Parliaments, is like an ostrich burying its head in the sand!

Our Parliament should not be a place to vent personal feelings neither should it be used as a “jouvert” bachannalian type of forum where any and everything goes. It certainly exposes the mentality of some of our MP’s who cannot effectively manage their constituencies and some Senators who because of inherited political succession and high colour, feel that they can “mash up de place” if ruled out of order by the Presiding Officer. There are typical examples of these on both the Government and Opposition benches presently who with their disgraceful behaviour have hurt this country more than they have helped it, with their “hands off me” attitude in Parliament.

There are those Parliamentarians however, who often have bonafide issues to present to the Parliament and the people of this country, and oftentimes, they are not allowed because it was not on the order paper to be debated on that day or it was not considered of urgent public importance. Sometimes Parliamentarians, especially in the Opposition, feel that they are being given a raw deal when they are not allowed to debate issues of urgent importance to the nation and rightly so! The fact that the Presiding Officers of the Senate and the Lower House are sworn in by the President of the Republic on the advice of the government of the day brings with it quite a lot of problems which are plain for all to see.

There is no trust on either side and issues will surface that have no bearing on the work that is needed to be done to move the nation forward. In other words Parliamentarians who have their “own personal axe to grind” are wasting taxpayers money because they are being unproductive. Presiding Officers in both Houses of Parliament must ensure that they do the job that taxpayers pay them to do and not cut short their jobs on a daily basis as though they are exhibiting a CEPEP mentality towards the work of the country. They have to be more productive and less confrontational. Dr Baboolal’s political experiences as a former PNM MP, Minister and Party Chairperson does not augur well for the job of Presiding Officer of the Senate as Opposition Senators and others will always perceive her to be partial towards the PNM in her rulings.

The same can be said for Mr Barry Sinanan in the Lower House. The  Standing Orders will continue to cause problems as Parliamentarians will always be vocal on why their issues are of public importance and the Presiding Officers will continue to rule against. These extremely important positions should go to qualified citizens who are trustworthy, reliable, and show administrative maturity, perception, discernment and judgement. Political appointees will not do, only because there is serious work to be conducted at this level, on behalf of our nation. Parliamentarians must share common values in the areas of democracy and rule of law.

They should also be anxious to ensure respect for the balance of power and the necessary diversification of national representation. Also, they should be desirous  of asserting the contribution made by our bicameral system to democratic debate and the role of their assemblies in the relationships between whom they represent while at the same time respecting the diverse cultures and traditions of our peoples. Did someone talk about constitution reform lately?

Dr Chris Mahadeo
Port-of-Spain