Dear Editor,
A political opposition is not and should not be about winning a debate; embarrassing the party in power; measuring scandals; calling for resignations, commission of inquiries or court cases; or blocking or getting the proposed legislation withdrawn, but is all about strengthening and balancing the resulting nation’s laws. Both the elected ruling and the Opposition parties as members of parliament and lawmakers jointly responsible for new laws and amendments enacted during their period of service.
The parliament is mandated to keep the executive Cabinet in check. Cabinet decisions which require changes to existing laws must be brought to Parliament, and it is at this stage that the people’s representatives have a say, and in most cases their only say. The views of constituents and special interest must form part of the debates.
It is widely accepted that all politicians are in the business of winning elections, hence out of power they debate only to oppose. The party in power proposes only legislation that can be passed with the majority presently held, and would only propose legislation where Opposition support is needed to show the public an uncaring opposition.
The political opposition must therefore call for the raw data and examine the resulting facts behind any proposed legislative changes.
Hence the call for all parliamentarians to support an independent National Statistical Institute reporting at pre-set times directly to the public on statistical data; household, population demographics, goods/services, with a governor and board. Also an independent Office of Budgets reporting as scheduled directly to the public on financial data; aligned with approved current estimates, forecasting on the short, medium and long-term effects of newly proposed policies before implementation and efficiencies ratios, especially as to cash flow, local and foreign currency public debt.
Going to the electorate, in the future, with a manifesto listing legislative accomplishments which were brought to strengthen the nation’s laws while serving in Opposition is the only way to show a commitment to the nation and its people, in or out of power.
Terrance A Jennings
taj.associates.co.ltd@gmail.com
A political opposition is not and should not be about winning a debate; embarrassing the party in power; measuring scandals; calling for resignations, commission of inquiries or court cases; or blocking or getting the proposed legislation withdrawn, but is all about strengthening and balancing the resulting nation’s laws. Both the elected ruling and the Opposition parties as members of parliament and lawmakers jointly responsible for new laws and amendments enacted during their period of service.
The parliament is mandated to keep the executive Cabinet in check. Cabinet decisions which require changes to existing laws must be brought to Parliament, and it is at this stage that the people’s representatives have a say, and in most cases their only say. The views of constituents and special interest must form part of the debates.
It is widely accepted that all politicians are in the business of winning elections, hence out of power they debate only to oppose. The party in power proposes only legislation that can be passed with the majority presently held, and would only propose legislation where Opposition support is needed to show the public an uncaring opposition.
The political opposition must therefore call for the raw data and examine the resulting facts behind any proposed legislative changes.
Hence the call for all parliamentarians to support an independent National Statistical Institute reporting at pre-set times directly to the public on statistical data; household, population demographics, goods/services, with a governor and board. Also an independent Office of Budgets reporting as scheduled directly to the public on financial data; aligned with approved current estimates, forecasting on the short, medium and long-term effects of newly proposed policies before implementation and efficiencies ratios, especially as to cash flow, local and foreign currency public debt.
Going to the electorate, in the future, with a manifesto listing legislative accomplishments which were brought to strengthen the nation’s laws while serving in Opposition is the only way to show a commitment to the nation and its people, in or out of power.
Terrance A Jennings
taj.associates.co.ltd@gmail.com