George at Studio 2GLF 89.3 fm

George at Studio 2GLF 89.3 fm
Broadcasting Emission Kontak

Friday 16 December 2011

The Mauritian parliament: A real circus.

I had the opportunity of assisting a session of the Legislative Assembly while in Mauritius.
I was shocked, and at the same time appalled, by the level of debate which I witnessed.
Only a handful of the parliamentarians are good and they are mainly from the MMM ranks.
Paul Beranger is outstanding and serious, well prepared and documented. Without him, (and Rajesh and Kee Cheong) that assembly  would  be like a Spanish Auberge or a street corner debate or what I hear kot marchand journal dan gran matin.
Anyway Question time was dull and boring. Some MLAs cannot properly frame a question, let alone speak English properly. Ms Anquetil, from the majority, was reading a question prepared in all intance and purposes, by the Minister to whom she was asking the question. This was so obvious. Watching the difficulty she encountered in asking supplementary questions, I wonder why she had to speak in English when she had been to Le Lycee Labourdonais ?
Another one, Nando Bhoda was reprimanded by the speaker, as he could not make the distinction between a question and a statement!! He was enmeshed in his questions/statements while trying to defend his poor record as Minister for Tourism and the flop concert at La Citadelle.
Some Ministers of the Government overtly displayed their lack of skills in answering questions, forgetting that they are accountable to the general public. Misleading Parliament is an offence under the Westminster system. Answers have to be accurate, clear and explanatory to the nation.
I was very surprised to see how most of the ministers do not have command of their respective portfolios. Some cannot even read and speak proper English. Zot koz anglais en Kreol. It would be better for them to speak in Kreol.
Some Minsters evaded questions and were vague in their answers. This practice is reprehensible if not disgusting. The nation need to know how public finance is used and not abused.
Misters of Navin Ramgoolam Government are definitely very incompetent from what I saw and heard. They are more of a shame to the nation. Mauritius deserves better.
The  PM is to be blamed, for choosing such a bunch of incompetents to be in cabinet and responsible for the running of the country. BBJ, among others, needs to seriously consider his retirement as he was inaudible and so brief. It is clear cut that some Ministers are there for specific reasons i.e to make hay while the sun shines. However, according to public opinion, their suns are setting...
The government team is so bad that there is urgent need for general elections. But instead Navin is unashamedly fishing for transfuges to consolidate his slim majority.
Navin was right when he declared that his team is weak. He should add incompetent as well.