Dear Editor – For quite a few years now our politicians have adopted the practice of congregating together in various hotels in Honiara during times of political instability and when the top job is up for grabs.
These groups are known as “camps” and are, I suggest, a national disgrace in that they undermine what remains of MPs’ integrity and credibility as national leaders.
They might just as well sit down at the Central Market with signs around their necks saying “For sale to the highest bidder”.
The owners of the hotels would be doing a great service to the nation if they closed their doors to politicians during the camping season and put up “No Camping” signs on their gates.
Who ends up having to pay the hotel bills? Not the MPs themselves or the political parties but the tax payers.
The judgment of the Supreme Court of Vanuatu in the recent case involving a number of Vanuatu Ministers and MPs should be compulsory reading for our leaders at a time like this.
The defendants in that case have learned the hard way what happens when personal interests take precedence over the national interest.
Andrew Radclyffe.
Honiara.
