Dear Editor,
The Alliance For Change (AFC) would be holding its Conference today. Elections would be held for the National Executive Committee (NEC). At the same time there would be elections for the Leader, Chairman, Vice Chairman and General Secretary. Holders of these four executive positions are by the constitution automatically members of the Management Committee (MC)
This Committee is the main leadership decision-making body that deals with everyday happenings and decision making.
But to divert a little, some time ago at one of the AFC’s retreats Khemraj Ramjattan indicated that the members of the Cabinet have collective responsibility and so they cannot question or criticize the decisions. I then stated that while that may be so, that the party can. Ramjattan agreed. It is my opinion that it is absolutely necessary for the parties to hold government accountable as the electorate votes for the party and the party decides on who would hold the reins of the Ministries
Now this creates a problem for while the MC can issue statements that can be critical of cabinet decisions the very MC is dominated by Ministers who because of collective responsibilities of Cabinet cannot criticize the government or by extension the Ministers. In addition, some of the members of the MC may be in the employ of the Ministers and so they would toe the line. So how is the party to hold the government accountable?
This dilemma exists within all parties and is one of the reasons our country is in the situation it is in. Members of all parties should remember this. In many instances relatively unknown persons are selected to be Ministers and so become popular. For some reason these Ministers are not seen as servants but are elevated to a position of kings by the supporters. Party members usually vote for persons they know, popular persons and so the Ministers contest the elections and they are elected into the leadership of the parties.
As a consequence there is really no accountability as they definitely would not hold themselves accountable. They end up defending each other and usually none of them are fired or recalled, no matter how badly they perform.
At the last Conference of the AFC, four Ministers were elected in the top four positions. One Minister was elected at the first meeting of the executive to be the treasurer. When elections for the MC commenced, two Ministers were nominated and when this was done no one nominated anyone to challenge the Ministers so essentially there were seven Ministers in the MC.
So the MC would have been rendered into a toothless poodle as those bound by collective responsibilities for Cabinet decisions cannot and would not question its decisions.
Today, delegates should be mindful of this and if they have any expectations of holding government accountable then they have to make the conscious decision not to have the Ministers dominate these key positions. There should be a motion that the ministers be ex-officio officers in the MC.
Moses Nagamootoo has already taken the position that he would not contest any of these positions. That is a sound step. Others should follow and if perchance they do not then delegates in the interest of the country and the party should only vote for those who do not hold ministerial positions.
Unfortunately, at the time of writing, nominations have already taken place and only Ministers have been nominated for the positions of Leader and Chairman. However, there is a more open field for Vice Chairman and general secretary. Members should appreciate what I have written and the need for accountability and so ensure votes are cast for someone who is not a minister.
To those who are elected to be in the national executive, recognize your independence at meetings. Ministers and leaders are not superior to you. Speak and vote your conscience. You have to elect five other members of the executive. Chose wisely and even if the leaders and Ministers nominate whom they want, do not be deterred. At the last NEC elections a Minister got up and nominated two other Ministers to be in the Management Committee. After that no one nominated anyone as they did not want to seem to be opposing the Minister. To those who are elected to be in the executive make your own nominations.
Yours faithfully,
Rajendra Bisessar
