Dear Editor,
Permit me to render some words of advice to the best-dressed male Member of Parliament, Dimar Labega. MP, before I dive into the meat of the matter, I must express my admiration to you, for always being so well-groomed and well-attired, every time you attend the meetings of parliament. Your dress code consistently reflects the position that you hold; no matter if the deliberations are slated for Central Committee Meetings or Public Meetings.
Having said that, my main objective for this article is to encourage you to read a lot more, but especially on the topics that are expected to be tabled for upcoming discussions. It would be a pragmatic move for you to seek information that requires extensive knowledge, from those who can share valuable experiences, in order for you to be better equipped to dialogue the issues that are before you, at any given time.
This approach would give you not just leverage over the information, but it also increases your flexibility for a more effective participation, whether the agenda requires short or extensive discussions. I can see that you have the willingness to learn, because you are always present (through active listening), whenever your teammates are discussing an issue. Even though you are not as vocal as you should be, you still remain attentive, no matter who the speaker is.
This kind of attitude speaks to your character and it is also a very critical aspect of learning. Therefore, I’d like to propose that you extend this mindset to deep conversations, with persons who are willing to share that knowledge. MP Dimar Labega, for starters, you don’t have to look very far, because within your reach you have a master of politics in the person of Chairlady Sarah Wescot-Williams.
Why don’t you invite her out on a couple of occasions for breakfast or lunch, to kick off the initiative? But be sure that the request is genuine. It would be wise to choose your topics beforehand, go with an open mind and be ready to pick her brains at every opportunity that will be presented to you. The intention is to learn, so your job is to listen well, observe, interject when necessary, and take notes.
Besides Chairlady Wescot-Williams, you have your dad, Erno Labega, who was in the political arena when ethics, humility and compassion were important aspects of politics. You can extend the same invitation to him, not as a family member, but as a teacher who can share his experiences when he was in active politics. I’m sure that you both have had countless discussions of a similar nature, but this time it will be different.
Do you know why? It is because you will be taking the initiative to direct the conversations, based on your experience as a new Member of Parliament – someone who is seeking the knowledge to improve on your communication skills, so that you could further represent your community, rather than just hearing the information around the family table. When you take control of the situation, you are always in a better position to direct the conversation.
To complete this mission, you cannot exclude the wisdom of your Great Aunt Jas Labega – a legendary sports enthusiast and a contestant in the political field back then. What a treat and honor it would be to give her that opportunity to flood your mind with the memories of politics in the past! Get to know her feelings of modern-day politics and how you can fuse elements of the past into today’s era, to benefit your initiative.
Here is where your job in parliament really begins, because it stimulates that urge for you to research the laws and policies that pertain to parliament and government. I recommended a change of environment because the setting to receive any information plays a vital role in collecting, processing, analyzing and the dissemination of that same knowledge.
This is critical, because during the 2025 budget debate when an MP brought a motion forward and it was rejected, he could not defend it, because he just regurgitated the information that was given to him.
MP Labega, I encourage you to develop that thirst for knowledge and maintain the image that replicates the legislative branch of government, that you represent.
Joslyn Morton
