Letters to the Editor
View(s):Speak out! Don’t allow MPs to behave like unruly children in Parliament
Any reasonable person following the proceedings that day would appreciate the Speaker’s willingness to accommodate the issues facing the joint opposition members within his authority and the existing standing orders, rules, and the precedents governing Parliament. Their frustration in their inability to get a ruling in their favour was understandable, but the Speaker was enforcing the rules of Parliament. Criticism of the Speaker in this scenario is thus akin to disrespecting the very institution of Parliament.
The behaviour of these members every day that Parliament was in session in the recent past caused disruption of Parliament’s business, eating into valuable parliamentary time and question time. Indeed the purpose of question time is to make the government defend its decisions and to hold the government accountable to its action in public. Instead of using this time to bring, to public focus the lapses, weaknesses and shortcomings of the government, these members use the time to resolve their personal scores.
It seems a thorough overhaul of procedure is needed–for instance the Speaker should be able to reprimand members and failing which to take appropriate action against the members.
It is the culture of the institution of Parliament which has got worse. Why do we the people accept this kind of behaviour from those elected to represent us? A child who has been rude or offensive towards somebody is made to apologize to the offended person. Can we imagine an MP doing this in our Parliament?
We tell our children at school; don’t be rude, respect each other and your teachers and do your work to the best of your ability and with maximum effort. Is this too much to ask the of our elected MPs?
If we continue to remain silent while our elected “adults” act like children we are forfeiting our rights as citizens and are failing in our responsibility by future generations. Complacency is no longer an option.
Raja Wickramasinghe
Via email
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One day a week not enough to collect recyclables
About a week back we the residents at the Anderson Flats Housing Scheme received hand bills from the Colombo Municipal Council stating that items such as plastic, polythene, paper, cardboard, glass bottles, metal items,coconut shells etc. will be collected only on Wednesdays of each week and on other days only kitchen waste would be collected.
Wednesday came and the garbage collectors were able to remove only one third of the total items piled up in their first trip in the one tractor they brought. Then they had to make a second trip to collect the balance, that too not completely, thus leaving the rest in the premises.
There are 800 houses in this housing scheme and one day is not sufficient for the CMC to collect all the recyclable articles especially given the shortage of vehicles. The poor collectors cannot be blamed for this lapse- they are doing a wonderful job. We feel that at least they should come on two days to remove these items and keep the flats free of mosquitoes, cockroaches and other insects.
With dengue raising its head again we hope the authorities will act fast.
Residents, Anderson Flats
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Bring back ‘flying squads’ to catch errant docs
I am 66 years old and both my parents were doctors. I am really proud of them because during their time people looked up to them.
I remember they were allowed to do private practice in the morning till 8 a.m and during the lunch break and in the evenings.
When I was quite young, two people walked into our quarters, which was next to the hospital asking for my father. One person looked quite sick with a towel wrapped around his head. They said they wanted to be treated.
I informed my father about them . He said “ask them to come to the hospital.” When I told them this they replied they would like to receive private treatment.
I went back to my father and to my amazement he scolded me saying “you are aware that I don’t do private practice during office hours.” I came back and passed on the message again. These two gentlemen then went to the hospital.
When my father came home to lunch he told me that the two had been from the Flying Squad of the Health Ministry.
I realized then what a principled doctor my father was.
My father was very keen that I too became a doctor. I failed to enter the Medical College but I am happy that I did not become a doctor as I too would have been categorized as a “Doctor Mudalali” (with apologies to Honourable Doctors).
My suggestion to the Government is to start the ‘Flying Squad’ system again as some doctors do private practice during hours that they should be in hospital.
C. Peiris
Via email
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