United Democrats (UD) leader Sarah Wescot-Williams has a point (see Monday paper). Closed-door Parliament meetings should not become the norm.
After all, it regards elected representatives in the “House of the People.” What they discuss there should in principle be common knowledge.
Confidentiality is justified under special circumstances on certain topics due to their sensitive nature and for information that cannot be freely shared with the public out of privacy, legal and/or national interest considerations. A reference was made to the virtual presentation by Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs on government’s reaction to the Dutch proposal for a Caribbean Reform Entity and related measures as condition for further liquidity support, which may have fallen into the latter exception category.
A closed-door session of the Public Health, Social Development and Labour VSA Committee with Minister Richard Panneflek is scheduled for today, Wednesday at 2:00pm. Requested by Parliament President Roland Brison of the United People’s (UP) party, it has as agenda point “The role of the inspectorate during the COVID-19 pandemic and their findings with regard to:
- Labour, health, social and food inspections conducted.
- The plans from the department to ensure all civil servants within the department are getting the necessary support to conduct their activities.”
One cannot help but wonder what the secrecy is about. Are these inspection results so horrible the community is not allowed to know or do the department’s internal plans perhaps include things that need to be kept quiet?
In the days of the former Netherlands Antilles there had been a time when only plenary sessions were open, and all committee meetings closed. That was changed to reflect an era of more transparency, openness, and accountability to residents and particularly the voters.
Political debate about the people’s business belongs in the public domain.
