Dear Editor,
The debate on the "shops of Spaldings" is not complete unless we revisit the fundamental principle of Westminster Government which established the tradition and custom of referring to a member of Parliament as 'honourable'. Thus, Member of Parliament Richard Azan is so styled —The Honourable Member of Parliament for North West Clarendon.
That word 'honourable' is worth far more than the paper on which it is written, and it has a far more important meaning than we seem to appreciate.
If the Honourable Richard Azan is to continue to enjoy our recognition of him as an honourable gentleman, then he ought to resign his post of junior minister, pending the results of investigations surrounding the construction of the shops by a private contractor on parish council lands and the payment of rental for these shops to someone in his constituency office.
In resigning from his junior ministerial post, Mr Azan would not be making an admission of guilt for any criminal act. He would simply be indicating to us that the issue surrounding the shops is so embarrassing to him that he is stepping aside from his post as junior minister to allow for an unfettered investigation of the matter.
He would be sending a message to the country that, being an honourable man, he is stepping aside purely on principle, and that adherence to good principles is fundamental to the maintenance of our belief in the concept that the members of our parliament are honourable men and women.
Mr Azan should be presumed to be innocent until evidence is brought forward to prove his guilt. We should therefore accord him the benefit of the doubt. He, in turn, has a duty to so conduct himself at this stage of the matter that all well-thinking members of society will view him as a truly honourable man.
However, should he continue to resist the calls to resign from his appointment as junior minister, we will have no choice but to conclude at this stage, and irrespective of the outcome of any future investigation, that Mr Azan does not deserve to have the word 'honourable' precede his name in any usage or form.
Linton P Gordon
lpgordon@cwjamaica.com
Honourable means honourable
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The debate on the "shops of Spaldings" is not complete unless we revisit the fundamental principle of Westminster Government which established the tradition and custom of referring to a member of Parliament as 'honourable'. Thus, Member of Parliament Richard Azan is so styled —The Honourable Member of Parliament for North West Clarendon.
That word 'honourable' is worth far more than the paper on which it is written, and it has a far more important meaning than we seem to appreciate.
If the Honourable Richard Azan is to continue to enjoy our recognition of him as an honourable gentleman, then he ought to resign his post of junior minister, pending the results of investigations surrounding the construction of the shops by a private contractor on parish council lands and the payment of rental for these shops to someone in his constituency office.
In resigning from his junior ministerial post, Mr Azan would not be making an admission of guilt for any criminal act. He would simply be indicating to us that the issue surrounding the shops is so embarrassing to him that he is stepping aside from his post as junior minister to allow for an unfettered investigation of the matter.
He would be sending a message to the country that, being an honourable man, he is stepping aside purely on principle, and that adherence to good principles is fundamental to the maintenance of our belief in the concept that the members of our parliament are honourable men and women.
Mr Azan should be presumed to be innocent until evidence is brought forward to prove his guilt. We should therefore accord him the benefit of the doubt. He, in turn, has a duty to so conduct himself at this stage of the matter that all well-thinking members of society will view him as a truly honourable man.
However, should he continue to resist the calls to resign from his appointment as junior minister, we will have no choice but to conclude at this stage, and irrespective of the outcome of any future investigation, that Mr Azan does not deserve to have the word 'honourable' precede his name in any usage or form.
Linton P Gordon
lpgordon@cwjamaica.com
Honourable means honourable
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