The recent renditions of parliamentary performance as executed by the young people’s Youth in Parliament were fine examples of how the leaders in society should be. They were courteous to each other in the chamber, they were respectful in their approach to the speaker and they complied with the rules. But then they had no political or party axe to grind.
That was a far cry from what is seen constantly emanating from the “real” politicians who call themselves “honourable”, while repeatedly disregarding the rules of the House of Assembly, being offensive to fellow members to the point of mouthing threatening remarks and even to being disrespectful of the Speaker. These are not the kinds of actions that young people should be encouraged to emulate, but who is to blame when they do?
Because when young people are found displaying these kinds of behaviours, being hostile and malicious, the statistics gathered by the social scientists readily brand them as coming from broken homes, not having father figures and being unsocialised, They are seen to be candidates for gang membership with careers as prison inmates or headed for early graves.
The House of Assembly has traditionally been “an honourable place”, where lawmakers were believed to be “gentlemen”, where they dressed in their fine clothes and were respectful of each other as they did the business of the country for and on behalf of the people. Prior to 1992, it may not have been all that as reports and photographs prove that it was sometimes necessary for the police to be used. But then only the interested few occupied the public gallery and bore witness to how all the parliamentarians acted.
Today, there is a vast difference with the parliamentary channel beaming the entire proceedings of the House into every home in The Bahamas that is serviced by the Cable Bahamas network. Former Cabinet Minister Zhivargo Laing, writing in his Straight Talk column observed that the House “seems to have been transformed from a debating chamber to a chamber of thugs.”
This is a sad commentary and one that all sitting parliamentarians and every right thinking individuals should seek immediately to correct. These kinds of behaviours should not be allowed to continue.
Source: Editorial, Nassau Guardian
