I have been heartened in my short amount of time here that other political leaders, in government, the opposition, other political parties, also indicated that they will respect [the Caribbean Court of Justice] ruling and there will be a peaceful reaction to it.
If the current political controversy is about the control of the anticipated oil revenues and continues to escalate, we would have failed the first test in our attempt to avoid the resource curse.
With 72 hours to go, it is still possible in the national interest for the President and the Opposition Leader to agree to convene a sitting of the National Assembly in order to avoid the looming constitutional crisis and a blow to democracy now staring at us.
In a previous column, we had referred to a statement from the Private Sector Commission (PSC) that the Chief Justice’s ruling remains intact until it is overturned by a higher court and that it expects the President and his government to respect and honour the ruling by calling elections before 21 March 2019.
Transparency International (TI) last week reported that the Maldives police arrested former President Abdulla Yameen for alleged bribes and kickbacks in a massive corruption scandal estimated at US$80 million involving leasing islands and reefs.
[Sustainable Development Goal] 16 recognises that building peaceful, just and inclusive societies that provide equal access to justice and that are based on respect for human rights including the rights of development requires effective rule of law and good governance on all levels, and are transparent, effective and accountable to institutions.
The delivery of the decisions by the Chief Justice demonstrates the independence and integrity of the Judiciary in protecting the Constitution and upholding the rule of law.
The timing of government’s increase in thresholds for restricted tendering should be questioned given that the Cabinet should have resigned with the December 21st passage of a no-confidence motion against the government, former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran has said.
With many democratic institutions under threat across the globe – often by leaders with authoritarian or populist tendencies – we need to do more to strengthen checks and balances and protect citizens’ rights.
But ‘tis a common proof,
That lowliness is young ambition’s ladder,
Whereto the climber-upward turns his face;
But when he once attains the utmost round,
He then unto the ladder turns his back,
Looks in the clouds, scorning the base degrees
By which he did ascend.
In our last two columns, we emphasized the need for political parties to prepare and submit their election manifestos to guide the electorate in their choice as to which party they will support in the forthcoming elections constitutionally due by 20 March, following the successful vote of no confidence in the APNU+AFC Coalition.
Last Wednesday, the President and the Opposition Leader met to discuss the way forward, following the 21 December 2018 vote of no confidence in the Government.
The law is reason, free from passion … Man, when perfected, is the best of animals, but when separated from law and justice, he is the worst of all…
He who trusts any man with supreme power gives it to a wild beast, for such his appetite sometimes makes him: passion influences those in power, even the best of men, but law is reason without desire … Aristotle
Last Thursday, the National Assembly met to discuss, among others, the consequences of the successful passage of the vote of no confidence in the Government.
The anti-corruption court in Pakistan has convicted and sentenced former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to seven years’ imprisonment for failing to justify the source of income relating to his ownership of a steel mill in Saudi Arabia.
Yesterday was International Anti-Corruption Day. It marks 15 years since the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) was adopted as well as 25 years since Transparency International came into being.