The Standing Orders of both Houses of Parliament were recently revamped but did the overhaul go far enough?
Parliaments are often referred to as the highest courts nations can have. Therefore, as in all courts, ultrasensitive cases are expected to be held "in camera" (which really means, "behind closed doors" or "away from public glare"), since the evidence presented in such trials can seriously scar innocent parties, once ventilated in the public domain.
A no-confidence debate is a no-holds-barred battle. The objective is to find and fling mud on the person targeted, in the hope enough will stick and shame them permanently; the target could even be drummed out of office.
The cut and thrust tend to be excruciatingly painful. Very messy. All sorts of nasty things can be alleged which, if allowed to get out, can inflict irreversible, unintended collateral damage, shattering communities that commonsense says ought to remain bonded.
United, we stand, divided, we fall! On reflection, I do now believe, for the sake of fostering a cohesive nation, it's better to spare the public the gory details of no-confidence wrestling matches inside the Parliament chamber.
And so I make the call for the Standing Orders of both Houses of Parliament to be amended again to ensure the actual proceedings of no-confidence debates are conducted discreetly, with only the verdict and outcome being publicised, via a bland statement, at the end.
I further call for the establishment of an Ethics Committee in each House, where the merits and demerits of all motions of no confidence must first be evaluated to determine whether they are worthy of consideration at all.
Of course, this new committee must also have the necessary powers to conduct investigations and hearings, to summon witnesses and to outline or recommend what action is to be taken against whomever, after it concludes its deliberations.
As it stands at present, not many citizens have confidence in the no-confidence process. They view it as churlish.
I trust my suggestions can help restore hope that parliamentarians will conduct ourselves in a stately manner, as, together, we confront and try to master the always uncertain future. Which is what's expected when women lead the way and presiding officers make up their minds to leave an impressive mark.
One love!
Richard Wm Thomas,
Five Rivers, Arouca.