Government should treat the Opposition as equals in the same way they would like to be treated if they were in Opposition, New Zealand MP Richard Barker contends. Barker did so as he addressed yesterday's session of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association's (CPA) seminar for Parliamentarians at the Hyatt. He said Government should ask whether rules they applied would meet with their satisfaction if they were in Opposition.
He said Government should be cognisant of the fact that they could be in Opposition one day to come.
Saying his proposal would create greater balance, Barker said Government should remember the phrase "There, but for the grace of the people, go I" when it considers the Opposition. During the session, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, raised the idea of a constituency fund to give MPs funding to do projects in their areas.
Jamaica MP Derrick Smith said a $40 million Jamaica fund was set up in his island with applications being sent to the PM's office. But he said media houses denounced it as "porkbarrel politics". It was later reduced to $20m, yet the Jamaica leader was adamant the fund should remain. Opposition Leader Keith Rowley disagreed, saying the initiative was open to "serious abuse" and suggested that money be disbursed to local districts to handle projects. (GA)