Adhering to existing principles

Dec 07, 2012 Letters

Dear Editor,
The parliamentary Committee of Privileges, of which Clement Rohee is a member, will meet to participate in a process to determine whether he in his capacity as Home Affairs Minister is culpable of the acts he is accused of and more so to examine whether the act of the National Assembly is justifiable. The referral of this issue, Rohee’s continuation as designated minister and his presence in parliament exercising such function coupled with the Executive’s defiant position of not considering the essence of the issue, has dire consequences for this nation.
The presence of Rohee on the Committee as a member and his attendance at the meeting where a charge is against him, threatens time-honoured principles in governance.
Rohee should be made to excuse himself as a member because it presents a conflict of interest. His presence on this Committee regarding a matter in which he is involved will send a signal to the society that the person in whose hands our security is placed is not prepared to honour societal values.
Under our current system any citizen who is accused has a right to be tried by his/her peers and also has the right to be heard and Rohee must enjoy these. Conversely, it violates principles to deliberate on and make decision on one’s performance. This principle must too be respected.
The government’s statement that Rohee as “the best minister” when the majority of the People’s Representative says the opposite is an indictment on them. Simply put, the fact that the administration has conceded Rohee’s performance is best among them all and his said performance is in question by the majority is their admittance that the entire Executive is no good. As such the society is in order in its agitations to right the wrongs by holding them accountable.
Additionally, since the issue before the parliament is of Rohee’s performance as Minister of Home Affairs and not that of a parliamentarian, the government needs to separate his roles and address them with some alacrity.
An elected government and its ministers cannot singularly determine their performance. That responsibility is also vested in the general society.
And in this case where the people have spoken, for the government to take the position that regardless of the evidence before it or the concerns raised, it will not consider or accede, that it will be their way or no way, is an affront not only to those who have spoken but also to their supporters.
This behaviour is obvious in the discharge of governance and reminiscent of acts taken during State killings and executions where bullyism rule the day and acceptance is imposed through incessant unsubstantiated talking points, unquestioningly regurgitated and disseminated which inevitably create a resignation to the wrongs. Such actions are to the nation’s detriment.
Again we witness this in the government’s recent announcement of public sector wage increase. This is a violation of the right of public sector workers to bargain collectively by their unions. In the 11th year of transgression this government has found excuses to create societal acceptance/resignation of the violation of the workers’ right and the rule of law which enshrines the right to collective bargaining.
This growing contempt for rights, the rule of law and accountability also have implications for PPP supporters who are being conditioned to accept wrongdoings once they are not directly affected, their voice has no meaning beyond giving their vote and shouting support for a party who wants to be allowed to do as they please even to them.
In this society all are not playing by the same rule and all are not being held to the same standard in as much as the institutions and instruments of State require uniformity in behaviour as a pre-requisite for peaceful co-existence and equitable development.
And as some sections of society call on us to get past the Rohee issue, let us be reminded that if the conduct and performance of the person in whose hands we placed our security, are questionable then it begs the question whether by taking the stand of moving on it will not too lead to supporting and enabling poor governance and lawlessness in the society.
One does not have to like an individual to respect the right of the individual or speak out on his/her behalf; neither does one have to hate a government or public official to hold them accountable. As a people and member of the United Nations family we too must aspire and struggle to conform.
Lincoln Lewis

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Adhering to existing principles

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