Dear Editor,
“The only thing worse than a lie is a lie that compounds it.” Regrettably, the population is being forced to tolerate this political propaganda that is paraded by UP and NA. Case in point: Ever since the 2020 elections and the formation of this coalition, the balance of power has always been odd. Even though NA was awarded 5 ministries, almost every decision and discussion are directed and controlled by the UP party.
Conveniently enough, Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs continues to brag about the rock-solid working relationship that exists between both parties. But is this statement factual, or is it wishful thinking that is stemmed from suppressed embarrassment – the coping mechanism that NA uses to hold on to power, just to avoid public defeat?
Right now, the leading sentiment is that this is the worst government since 10-10-10. So, is NA the victim of their own actions, or have they been outfoxed again by UP – the same coalition partner that has opposed their principles and is now ripping them to the core? Likewise, how much longer will these spineless MPs remain trapped and allow The People’s House to go down the drain?
Unfortunately, with this glaring reality of a disabled party, NA is still trying to convince themselves and the population that they are in charge of the government and to some extent, the parliament. But over the course of time, as with everything good or bad, the truth always reveals itself.
Late last year, when MP Roland Brison’s voice note “leaked out” and the prime minister could not conceal the lie anymore, she finally admitted that this MP is the bridge that keeps the UP and NA together. Why a bridge, when the coalition is branded as “rock-solid?” And, how is this arrangement possible and acceptable, when by law, parliament is the supervising body of government?
This continuous cunning attempt by MP Rolando Brison (the bridge) to muzzle the opposition or any other MP who dares to point out the ills of government, is a clear indication that the coalition is unstable. Not only that, this situation has further revealed the gross incompetence of the government and parliament, and that they are operating on a level of serious dishonesty.
So, have parliamentarians abandoned their role that they swore to uphold, and has the government entangled itself in the same web, just to remain in a union that has defaced the integrity and democracy of this country? This scenario is like staying in an abusive relationship for the sake of the children, who themselves are living in constant turmoil.
Stability without integrity is not stability. It is corruption wrapped in deception and confusion. So, contrary to what Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs is poking down the people’s throat, this “cohesive” relationship does not hold water, and this fiction is bound to backfire, sooner than later.
Was it not in the early months of 2019, MP Grisha Heyliger-Marten declared on air that parliament is a circus and an embarrassment? Now that she is in charge of “the circus,” which has gotten 100 times worse under the leadership of the UP – the party that is devoid of any ethical principles – does she have the same impression of the current situation?
Furthermore, now that MP Rolando Brison has blatantly challenged the authority of government and parliament by persistently demonstrating the concepts of leverage, manipulation and intimidation, will Chairlady Grisha Heyliger-Martes continue to oversee “the circus,” or will she give back the presidency to MP Rolando Brison as he is demanding?
As this charade continues to unfold, has the Integrity Chamber closed its doors, or perhaps I have misunderstood the definition of integrity, and the real purpose of this institution? Similarly, is the Council of Ministers truly comfortable with the perception that this awkward situation is creating, both locally and internationally?
While everything may appear to be running on course, this peculiar arrangement, where the success of this government and parliament lies in the hands of one MP, surely exposes the awful incompetence of government and parliament. The only officials exempted from this total failure are MP Christopher Emmanuel, MP Sarah Wescot-Williams, Minister Roger Lawrence and Minister Anna Richardson.
There is no doubt that the integrity of government and parliament has been seriously compromised. Now that the entire governmental apparatus has been camouflaged, which one of the MPs or ministers will have the guts to confront this unprincipled precedent, to bring back transparency and integrity to the leadership of this country?
Joslyn Morton
