Dear Editor – Listening to the talk-back show on “Election for what” program over SIBC on Sunday 21st September, 2014, I came back to realise that those who called in to comment, did not know the role of Parliament and what Parliament is.
They thought of Parliament as a place to hand out free gifts, in particular, money to Dick, Tom and Harry.
They said they would vote in women in this coming general election because women are easy to deal with than men when it comes to dishing out money.
Their understanding of Parliament is a place to give free money for domestic expense of voters. Far from it!
We do not and should not vote in people for such a reason. That is not the role or function of Parliament.
We vote in men and women to become MPs to make law and make good political policies to manage and guide the country and its citizens to have a better life, like the recently passed Bill now becomes an Act “Family Protection Act” and not to be purchasing officers and petty cash cashiers, or charity workers.
Parliament is the highest law-making body of any country that adopts Democratic System of government and as such, men and women who would like to get voted in must have some knowledge of what parliament is, as far as its roles and functions are concerned.
If you do not know the basics about Parliament and being in Parliament, don’t make a fool of yourself, like some in the previous parliaments.
Some did not even know that the microphones were supplied but were never used, because they had nothing to say over the microphones.
Some women and of course some men too, commented that because women are good at managing their home kitchens and families, they would make good MPs.
Not really guys! These are two different places. Managing a country is far, far different and is more difficult from managing a home kitchen.
John Tinonibona
Tulagi, Gela
