Loyalty to a leader should not be a sufficient criterion for post or position

May 25, 2015 Letters

Dear Editor,
While the legitimacy of the election is being debated in public and will be addressed by the court, I wish to focus on the selection of incoming parliamentarians as well as the list of Regional Councillors and Chairs of Corporations. This is a very significant issue, as important as the selection of the cabinet, if not greater.
The most suitable individuals should be selected to sit in the chamber as well as in the Regional Council. They must meet the attributes of character and competence to engage in debate. They must add to a discussion and not merely be “Yes men” or “Yes women “. Surely, such individuals of worth are found in all ethnic tribes and in both parties.
They are more appealing than the loyalists. Loyalty to a leader should not be a sufficient criterion for post or position. People must be selected on merit and competence. It is understandable that the leader would want loyalists. But that will do a disservice to party and country.
We saw what happened over the last 50 years when loyalists filled positions. We do not want a repeat of that blunder. We must learn from that experience and choose men who are worth the title of being described as Honorable Member of Parliament, like many of those who sat in the chamber before 1966 — who can make intelligent contributions to a debate.
The parties’ representatives, who are also the peoples’ representatives, must be individuals of substance with a commanding presence and who earn the respect of the populace. They must be able to comprehend what they read and apply critical thinking to bills and proposals.
They must be able to analyze the problems of society and propose suggestions to same. They must be even-handed in tackling issues and act inclusively, i.e, propose suggestions that would benefit people of all ethnic groups rather than of their own supporters. The people must demand no less. The privileged few must never again be allowed to control the levers of power as in the past, ignoring the majority of us as though we are their servants.
The legislators must not be compromised; they should have independence of thought and action. The parties’ leaders must select those who are strong willed and who can act in the best interest of voters, not the best interests of the parties or their selfish leaders.
Vishnu Bisram

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Loyalty to a leader should not be a sufficient criterion for post or position

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