Dear Editor
IT is an uncontested given, of the right of a political opposition party in a democratic country to participate in the proceedings of parliament. This is what true democracy is all about, since those party members are expected to represent their constituents.

But this is apart from the important aspect of offering constructive criticisms which can be considered by the incumbent executive of the day, for inclusion in the national development policies.

This is expected primarily from an opposition during a budget debate, since it involves seminal issues that are integral for debates and discussions on the socio-economic status of the country, inclusive of its key sectors, whether they are performing well; and what suggestions are viable for either correcting errors, or consolidating for better results. It is therefore the right of every opposition to scrutinise, keenly, budgetary allocations for every sector of the particular state.

Not only was this recent budget debate woeful, in terms of opposition content as debate; but absolutely petulant, childish, and amateurish, for the mode of behaviour exhibited by a collective who occupies a constitutional office, and are expected to play a constructive role.

In typical style, that has become the known badge of PPP/C parliamentary performance; spirited, reasoned, and intelligent responses to BUDGET 2019 were replaced by the disgust of political rhetoric that offered no rational arguments against the budget; attempts at bullyism that betrayed an opposition that could not have proven their empty and manufactured mathematics in support of their ridiculous contentions; and insults that are the usual resort to obfuscate a deficiency in humans, when they do not have a clue as to whatever issue is in focus; and attempts at railroading when they realised that they are not being taken seriously.

This was more than political immaturity; it was a grand display of political opposition asininity that continues to be part of its politics, even in the National Assembly, as the PPP/C MPs increase their frenzy against the coalition government.
Good, rational, intelligent debates are good for the personal, political profile development of individual MPs, as it makes for better insight in terms of objective understanding of their country and its socio-economic challenges and needs. Moreover, it allows for the development of political bi-partisanship on national issues.

No one expects a political parliamentary opposition to facilitate a walk in the park for the government of the day on any issue that may come to a national parliament; and this is because of the adversarial nature of politics. However, one expects a maturity that is consonant with being elected as national leaders; one that speaks to offering intelligent suggestions that are objective, and can be incorporated towards national development. This was clearly absent from the PPP/C collective. I believe the success of our nation can be liberally applied to all our people instead of conserved for a select few. That is what the 2019 budget sought to do.

Regards
Dillon Goring