Dear Editor,
As a member of the Diaspora, I was somewhat relieved that the general election wasn’t called this year. Judging from the tribal nature and polarisation of the country’s politics, this would put a damper on the Christmas holidays.
But what is the point of calling an election a year before it is actually due? The constitution requires that a general election should be held every five years. Yet, for some unexplained or imaginary reason the prime minister wants to call it way ahead of time.
In that case, change the constitution to having it every four years. That would make more sense to me. In the absence of a fixed election date, the election should be called when it is due or close to it, more like next October.
There’s a lot of work to be done in the country and the Government, in particular, should focus on that. General elections are quite costly to hold, not to mention the violence and unrest that are associated with it. It is not something to be rushed into. It should be mounted early only if it is extremely necessary, like a complete no confidence in the Government — which is not the case.
Another issue that concerns me is the fact that everyone is jockeying and wants to be a member of parliament, yet when they’re elected they don’t attend Parliament. In the public and private sectors if you don’t show up for work you won’t be paid. Some mechanism should be in place to ensure that if these parliamentarians don’t attend the House sittings — to look after the country’s business for which they’re being paid — they should be penalised. It is not a nine-to-five job where you’re required to work five days a week. So there’s no reason for being absent from House sessions. Unless, of course, they are travelling or for some other compelling reason.
In addition, I think our leading educational institutions should offer a certificate course in government which should be mandatory for all aspiring politicians. The curriculum should include ethics in government.
Finally, when the elections are called, I’m imploring both leaders and their candidates to appeal to their supporters repeatedly during the campaign not to engage in violence. Those days are behind us and should never be repeated. The country should hold politicians on both sides accountable and responsible for any flare-up in violence or uncouth behaviour.
Noel Mitchell
Westchester, New York
nlmworld@yahoo.com
As a member of the Diaspora, I was somewhat relieved that the general election wasn’t called this year. Judging from the tribal nature and polarisation of the country’s politics, this would put a damper on the Christmas holidays.
But what is the point of calling an election a year before it is actually due? The constitution requires that a general election should be held every five years. Yet, for some unexplained or imaginary reason the prime minister wants to call it way ahead of time.
In that case, change the constitution to having it every four years. That would make more sense to me. In the absence of a fixed election date, the election should be called when it is due or close to it, more like next October.
There’s a lot of work to be done in the country and the Government, in particular, should focus on that. General elections are quite costly to hold, not to mention the violence and unrest that are associated with it. It is not something to be rushed into. It should be mounted early only if it is extremely necessary, like a complete no confidence in the Government — which is not the case.
Another issue that concerns me is the fact that everyone is jockeying and wants to be a member of parliament, yet when they’re elected they don’t attend Parliament. In the public and private sectors if you don’t show up for work you won’t be paid. Some mechanism should be in place to ensure that if these parliamentarians don’t attend the House sittings — to look after the country’s business for which they’re being paid — they should be penalised. It is not a nine-to-five job where you’re required to work five days a week. So there’s no reason for being absent from House sessions. Unless, of course, they are travelling or for some other compelling reason.
In addition, I think our leading educational institutions should offer a certificate course in government which should be mandatory for all aspiring politicians. The curriculum should include ethics in government.
Finally, when the elections are called, I’m imploring both leaders and their candidates to appeal to their supporters repeatedly during the campaign not to engage in violence. Those days are behind us and should never be repeated. The country should hold politicians on both sides accountable and responsible for any flare-up in violence or uncouth behaviour.
Noel Mitchell
Westchester, New York
nlmworld@yahoo.com