The Virus Is Here to Stay the Speaker's Dilemma
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VOL 2021 No 10 Editor: Peter Chellen (Former Editor of Mauritius News 1983 - 2015) A totally independent platform Views expressed by contributors are their own Female reporter from Afghanistan who teared up over Taliban takeover during Pentagon briefing says Afghan people 'don't know what to do' Even the Creator sitting & watching in His Heaven does not know what to do. How can he relish so much blood shed in His name? The virus is here to stay We must stay vigilant to keep it out of our body! Vaccination REDUCES Risk of Infection. You are free to expose yourself and your family to risk. But not free to expose your neighbours! The Speaker’s dilemma If there is a problem, what’s the solution? Bravo to the honourable gentlemen and gentlewomen in the Mauritian Parliament who are good role models for the younger generation of the island. Little do they know in what derision they are held by the youngsters of this country, and the sort of nicknames given to them. Swearing. is not uncommon in the sanctuary where the people’s representatives can say whatever they like without fear of any sanction Bravo to the honourable gentlemen and gentle- In the past, there was usually only one leader of the Op- women in the Mauritian Parliament who are position in the House to reckon with. Today, there are sev- good role models for the younger generation of eral of them: Arvind Boolell of the Labour Party, Paul the island. Little do they know in what derision Bérenger of the MMM, Xavier Duval of the PMSD, and they are held by the youngsters of this country, Nando Bodha of the new RM (Rassemblement Mauricien). and the sort of nicknames given to them. Swear- Extra Parliamentary Opposition is made up of Navin Ram- ing is not uncommon in the sanctuary where the goolam (actual Labour leader) and several activists like people’s representatives can say whatever they Roshi Bhadain of the new Reform Party, Rama Valayden, like without fear of any sanction. ex-promoter of MR (Mouvement Républicain), Bruneau Laurette (Party yet to be constituted), Percy Yip Tong, and This piece is written, as objectively as possible, tak- the etceteras. On the other hand, there are elements of the ing into consideration that there are no angels in the hostile press to contend with, plus the hordes of knowl- House from whichever political parties sitting there. edgeable facebookers in Mauritius and abroad. In a democratic country, the Opposition of today will sooner or later be the Government of tomorrow and Comparing the attitude and the delivery of Speakers of pre- vice versa. They will change seats from right to left vious eras it is believed that they were better tempered. But and from left to right but the verbiage and acri- Speakers of former times did not have to face such an army monies will go on. of grieved leaders sitting in opposite armchairs. If we take for instance a Sir Harilall Vaghjee (Labour appointee) of Much has been made of that “look at your face’ the 1950s facing capitalist MPs of the likes of a Jules Koe- statement from the Speaker of the National Assembly. Yes, nig and all, it could be said that the Legislative Council of the there is definitely a dilemma for the man sitting in the hot seat time was very much a gentlemen’s club. The Assembly today in the Mauritian Parliament. Speaker under fire has reached such a level of degradation and vulgarity that it can be said that the wrong message is being sent to the younger Mauritius itself is facing a dilemma with a Speaker in its Par- sense of the word, i.e. a Speaker who can make use of his voice, generation. It may be inferred liament who speaks, i.e. a Speaker who is not dumb in broad on the one hand, and a man who is not stupid on the other hand,. that in the National Assembly - /2 - as the word dumb is also defined in the English language 2 Mauritian Overseas Gazette Vol 2021 Issue No 10 - /2 - President is elected in some countries. An elective Speaker One of the radio callers argued that the Speaker should could be an answer to the assault on the tenure of his office. not dismiss MPs who have been elected by the people to sit in Parliament especially as the Speaker has not himself Former Infrastructure Minister Nando Bodha who moved over been elected by the people to be there. In the same vein it to the Opposition benches in February last and constituted his may be asked if it is correct for the MPs to make a mock- own party, the Reform Movement, has made suggestions for ery of their mandate and to walk out as they do, so fre- constitutional reforms to be introduced in Mauritius. He argues quently. It may be argued that they have been elected by that a Prime Minister should not hold office for more than two the people to sit in Parliament and not to sit on the pave- terms. Because there is so much impatience on the part of the ment. If MPs have a right to walk out when it takes their Opposition to get back to the polls soon after a general election, fancy to do so, should not the Speaker have the right to Mr Bodha may as well preconise that the life of a parliamentary exercise his authority to expel them when they challenge session should be reduced from five to three years. his call to order and whenever they make a nuisance of Two terms of three years each should be adequate for a Prime themselves in the House. Walkout protests are practically Minister to implement the programme of his government. only known in Mauritius and not anywhere else in the world. Because there is so much bad blood and endless bickering dur- ing the life of a parliamentary session that it may be advisable Again, one caller said during a radio phone-in that the to introduce a system of referendum to gauge the nation’s re- Speaker perhaps meant to tell Honourable Bhagwan to action on any topic on which there is a general outcry leading look at his own face as he looked drunk himself when he to unrest. The Opposition no longer wishes to allow a govern- (Bhagwan) arrogantly asked the Speaker whether he was ment, put in place by the people, to deliver in accordance with drunk. This is not the sort of language expected of an MP, its promises to the electorate. We have now in Mauritius an Op- Former Speaker Mrs Maya Hanoomanjee kept the PM pointed out in an answer to a question from the position that is totally desperate for power. Certain issues could on her toes by recalcitrant MPs press. be decided by referendums, e.g. the present issue concerning the Speaker. Instead of all the tantrums within and outside Par- it is right to behave like hooligans at a football match. The It could well be that the Speaker, when provocatively asked by liament people could say whether he should go or not. Public Speakers of yesteryears were free from the social media post- Honourable Bhagwan whether he was drunk, stopped short of demonstrations could become useless if the silent majority was ings where a lot of provocation is generated by a lot of ‘con telling him “shut your face” and preferred to use a language given a chance to have its say and express itself in frequent bal- tout’ people. While progress in communication is always wel- that was less rude in telling him “look at your face”. lotings. comed it must be admitted that abuse can also be made by those who want to create chaos. Shaddap Your Face A Proactive Institution The Speaker of the modern era is seen as an enemy whose auth- ority should be challenged. This view is endorsed by a lady Honourable Bhagwan who has a skin condition, vitiligo, took One thing that can be said of our Parliament is that it is a pro- caller who said on a private radio phone-in session, the auth- no offence himself when told by the Speaker to look at his face active institution, very alive with a lot of energetic people when ority of the Speaker is constantly under attack by the Opposi- but it was the league of Opposition leaders who took up the in sittings of course. Under the scrutinising of the tv camera, tion parties. The caller mentioned the tribulations of Maya cudgels to tell the PM that the Speaker that should resign. Out- few would use it as a bedroom for an occasional nap. If they Hanoomanjee as Speaker in the previous government. She was side Parliament former Parliamentarians, hostile to the govern- do, they would soon be woken up by the sudden outbursts that frequently disrupted by the Opposition and even by members ment, have taken exception to the Speaker’s remark to say that take place frequently in the House. No, the Mauritian Parlia- of the Government. One can remember when members were even under provocation he should not lose his cool and to en- ment is certainly not a dormitory. making use of their mobile phones in the House even during gage in a shouting match with an MP. There is here a possible sittings. Unruly and out-of-control were the so-called Honour- gap in the legislation as to who can bring the Speaker to order.