Integrity and proper conduct should be an integral component of one’s character if the individual is to earn the respect and confidence of people and the fostering of genuine progress and development of a nation. And in this regard people in public life come under closer scrutiny because they are seen as role models and persons who should be of impeccable integrity and conduct themselves in an exemplary manner.
One category of officials who perhaps come under daily scrutiny is parliamentarians, and this is understandable because they are elected by the people as there representatives to address the socio-economic difficulties that face people in their life. Therefore it is imperative that parliamentarians do not compromise on their integrity and conduct and at all times act responsibly or else they will eventually be rejected by the people.
Senate Ethics Office of the Senate of Canada, Jean T. Fourier made an excellent presentation on this subject when he delivered an address entitled “Strengthening Ethical Leadership by Parliamentarians and Legislators: An Eight-Point Plan” to the Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption Conference in Brisbane, July 29, 2009.  This is what he said:
“Questions of ethics and the conduct of public officials are as old as the origin of democracy.
Political philosophers have been addressing for a very long time the questions of honesty, integrity and accountability as part of the constant striving for further perfecting democracy, not only as a form of government, but also as a way of life. But if the importance of ethical leadership is so universally recognised, why is it that ethics is in such a terrible state today?”
“Most people are dismayed with the state of affairs. They are sick of the deception, cheating
and corruption. People don’t know who, or what, to trust. Few institutions or professions have
escaped scandals in recent years.”
He added: “There’s clear evidence that parliamentarians and legislators everywhere are held in low esteem and are being criticized for failing to meet appropriate standards of conduct. The abuse of
public position for private benefit is a global phenomenon. The British MP expenses scandal is
the most recent example, involving legislators of all major political parties charging – and
being routinely reimbursed – for items such as hedge-trimming, moat clearing and tennis court
repairs.”
“A recent study undertaken for Elections Canada found the largest reason for voter decline was
negative public attitudes towards politicians. The study said: “There is a widespread perception
that politicians are untrustworthy, selfish, unaccountable, lack credibility, and are not true to
their word.”
“In the United States, one survey in recent years heard from respondents that only 30% of them
trusted their government to do what was right. Another found the approval rate of Congress
down to 18%. A 2008 poll which ranked Australian politicians against other occupations for trustworthiness, placed politicians 39th out of 40, ahead only of telemarketers. A similar poll in Canada produced the same result. Our politicians also finished in 39th place, just ahead of car sales people and telemarketers. Perhaps our two countries are more alike than we think!”
On this note the spurious unsubstantiated charges made by the Alliance for Change Parliamentarian Khemraj Ramjattan that the parliamentary Hansard was tampered with, which was published in an equally irresponsible manner by another newspaper, is most atrocious and can be described as the lowest of “gutter politics.”
What is even more mind-boggling is that this parliamentarian is a legal practitioner for many years and a former President of the Guyana Bar Association and therefore he should be fully aware of the need to have substantive evidence before making such a serious charge publicly.
Touching on the investigation which was launched when the Speaker of the National Assembly became aware of the allegation he correctly and pertinently pointed out: “I expected that the Honourable Member would have awaited the results of the investigation before making a public allegation.”
Worse yet he has been proven to be completely wrong because the Speaker of the National Assembly reproduced the tape of the relevant proceedings which was aired during the parliamentary sitting on Wednesday for everyone present to hear, including the parliamentarian who made the spurious charge.
Certainly, his constituents must be reconsidering whether they are supporting the right individual and the party he represents.
But more importantly he should be sanctioned fully in accordance with the Parliamentary Standing Orders and Code of Conduct if he does not provide an appropriate explanation and apology because such callous disrespect to the Parliament of this country cannot be tolerated.
It would be interesting to see whether his colleagues on the opposition benches would have the magnanimity to condemn the callous conduct. If they do not do so in an unambiguous manner this could be interpreted as condoning their colleague’s improper conduct which is not healthy for our Parliament because it could open the “flood gates” to similar conduct by other parliamentarians.