LETTER OF THE DAY: Party whip too strong

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I AM saddened at the fact that the Opposition seems hell-bent on tearing down and criticising almost everything the government does.

It says to me that they either put the concerns of their party before those of their country or that they genuinely disagree with the government on every single issue. An Opposition must oppose but it should not do so primarily for the sake of opposing. I find it troubling that Opposition members are hard-pressed to openly agree with something the government does. I long for the day when we have a parliament that has members speaking their minds based solely on their conscience and moral convictions, as opposed to towing the party line on every issue and voting in favour of or against a bill because it is what they are 'ordered' or expected to do.

One of the few issues about which I found independent thought being expressed is in relation to the casino bills that were before parliament not too long ago. Opposition member Lisa Hanna was in favour of casinos being established in Jamaica while her colleague, Maxine Henry-Wilson, did not support such a move. However, I am hard-pressed to find other occasions on which the members of the current Opposition and the members of the government speak their minds in a way that puts how they truly feel above the view of the majority of their members.

Criticism

In this regard, however, I must commend Portia Simpson Miller for having abstained from voting in line with her Cabinet colleagues - on increasing the budget for the fire services - under the then P.J. Patterson-led administration. Unfortunately, one also recalls how much criticism she received from her party colleagues.

Notably, Everald Warmington from the Jamaica Labour Party does not seem fearful of speaking his mind, and does so quite vociferously, even when what he has to say falls out of line with his party. Last, I am disappointed that there isn't one member of parliament who is an independent. Such a member would be 'free' to speak as he/she feels, without fear of a backlash from their party.

I am, etc.,

Patrick A. Gallimore

pagalley@hotmail.com

Kingston