Human and gender rights activist Felicia Dujon wants the planned reformed parliamentary system in Barbados to make provision for parliamentarians to be “reprimanded” for unethical conduct.
She gave the suggestion on Monday night, as members of the Parliamentary Reform Commission (PRC) engaged Democratic Labour Party (DLP) comrades and supporters in a town hall meeting.
Dujon, who is the DLP’s third vice-president, said she believed the time had come for some form of action to be taken against members of parliament who engage in unethical practices that were not considered illegal.
“Whether it means harassment, whether it is abuse or intimidation, how do we deal with those factors? Are there clear codes of conduct that either Parliament, the commissioner, a group or committee deals with such matters? What are the kinds of provisions or mechanisms that are in place to reprimand or even investigate the allegations?” she queried.
Insisting that a clearly defined code of conduct was required under the new parliamentary system, Dujon questioned: “If we have a government with 30 seats, who is going to reprimand them?”
Declaring that politicians are also human beings, she added: “They must have ethical guidance or ethical codes by which [they abide]. It is not just about you winning seats, but how you conduct yourself in public life.”
“If a constituent has a concern with a particular member [of parliament], the question again raised is, ‘do we wait another five years or when an election is called to reprimand the individual?’, considering if it is not a legal or criminal matter. So I would say if such persons engage in unethical matters like bribery and things of that nature, intimidation of constituents, how do we deal with such matters?”
Dujon also called for the encouragement of more women in elective politics through legislation.
In her submission, former DLP president Verla De Pieza questioned whether Barbados should get rid of the Westminster model.
“I am taking very careful note of the apathy that is sinking in Barbados – the number of persons who are opting not to be any part of the process we have right now – and looking for ways in which we can improve the participation and the expectations as well,” she said.
De Peiza said perhaps the time had come for the country to develop its own model and to reinstitute some form of local government representation, as she insisted that Barbados was at a stage of its development where consideration should be given to “what we want for ourselves as opposed to what others gave to us”.
“I am thinking along the lines of the constitutional positioning of constituency councils or constituency governance, some devolution from central government, and having that within the Constitution as well. What that does is invite greater participation,” the former DLP leader said.
“To have ways and means and mechanisms where more of our people can be involved, I think is something we need to consider. I don’t know that I have the actual answer, but certainly, if we are all knocking our heads together we can come up with something that is ours, that works for our people, that is not necessarily borrowed wholesale.”
However, PRC chairman Sir Richard Cheltenham disagreed with the call for a local government system.
“We don’t need all these levels of government, what we need is improved management and efficiency. That is the big thing that is lacking in this country,” he said.
Commissioner and Deputy President of the Senate Elizabeth Thompson added: “What we have to look at is our management systems and our structures and the level of accountability for doing the job, and the financial resourcing being given to the various agencies that are asked to deliver for the people of Barbados.” (MM)
