COMMENTARY
By ELLIOT DAWEA
DIVINE WORD UNIVERSITY
MADANG
Over the last 35 years of independence there is
a development of a kind political culture that is somewhat a hybrid unique (and
I wish endangered) to Solomon Islands.
What is
quite interesting is that when more responsibilities is assumed by our
politicians from being legislators, political executives, overseers of policies
now to becoming more of constituency project managers (mandate themselves to
dish out grants and fundings) there is an increase of MP’s being elected into
Parliament who have the characters of what I coined as “Culture of political
rag syndrome”
To date if one observes debating and proceedings
of the 9th parliament, only an average of 8 to 12 members contribute to during
debates.
And if one would analyze the content of the debates about 4 to 5 MP’s
contribute meaningfully.
That is, they have done some form of research
and prepare properly before debating hence the contents of debate is of quality
and relevance to bill and motions passed in parliament.
A good proportion of MP’s either merely debate
to be heard by constituents as if contributing (however the contents of debate
is merely hot air), whilst the rest are just sitting ducks in the parliament
chambers as if brooding over their eggs to hatch or perching on a branch
waiting to be rustled by any loud noise or the rattling sound of the dollar.
My discussion will be on those brooding MP’s.
This category of MP’s is somewhat the stumbling group to any stability of any
government.
Because those MP’s all along are politically
idle, legislatively ignorant, policy dumb but are professional experts in what
Dr. Tarcius Tara termed in the 1990s ‘Rubber
Band politicians. Who jumped here
and there, whenever political juggling occurs.
What this rubber band politicians should realize
that they are no more than political grasshoppers, which are used by the power
brokers and those thirsty for the PM’s post to wipe their dirty shoes in the
process of jumping onto the leadership and or the executive’s chair.
If you compare the behavior of this category of
politicians and a door rag, they have some similarities.
Firstly, door rags are only useful during rainy
seasons when the foot path is muddy and there is a need to clean ones leg
before going into the house, whenever they are not needed the rags will be
stored in a back room and forgotten.
Similar this group of MP’s will only be needed
and active only when camps are formed, you will note that the Prime Minister or
the Opposition group will showing them off in the front row in the media, with
the executive or the Opposition group or they are known to jump forming their
own camps etc.
And after a motion of no confidence, they are
stored like a door rag in back room called the back bench or unremunerated
shadow portfolios.
Waiting whenever there is another attempted
Motion of no confidence or a controversial motion then they would again cuddled
by the PM or the opposition group and showed off to the public.
Secondly a rag is used to clean dirt, and this
category of MP’s are merely used in the same manner, only when there is
accusation of corruption and abuse and influential MP’s are sacked or resign
then you would note that some of those MP’s in that category will be pulled out
of the back bench to bolster the government side or pulled into the opposition
camp to be used for dirt.
Thirdly a rag doesn’t seemed to think or have
any conscience, ethics or complain, they can be used to wipe shoes, mop stains,
and dust windows.
And such
categories of MP’s are moreless like that whenever they are thrown out,
neglected and used for odd dirty jobs, they don’t have any say.
Rather they just allow themselves to be used to
satisfy the masta’s convenience. Whether they are tossed, muddied or whatever,
they don’t mind.
What matters is as long they are used by the
master as a wiping material by the Captains (-Prime Minister) or their
engineers (Caucus boss), and then patted for their service.
In Solomon Islands where by the party system is
fluid, the trend of this ‘rag politicians’ entering parliament is increasing.
These characteristics and the practice to an extent has influence the
perception as to how Solomon Islands society defines leadership and politics.
For instance gift giving and the cargo mentality
(buying for support) is one of the main criterias people now have in order to
vote people into parliament. And in one view, the increase of funds to be
administered by the Politicians is a reaction to meet and fulfill this view of
politics by society.
This culture of political rag syndrome is an
incurable virus for stability in the Solomon Islands. Because this bunch of
leaders, do not operate on human or societal conscience, principle, morality,
or ethics, which are the essential ingredients of political wisdom that entail
stability.
Rather the main characteristics of these
political grasshoppers are: polilicking, strategizing, lobbying, political
brokering, political prostitution, political auctioning etc. These factors on
the other hand are recipes for corruption, dictatorship and all the political
nastiness one can think of.
The question to ask is, if these things occur in
our political arena who are or will be the victims? The answer is the people
that these leaders assumed to represent. Therefore if that is the case what are
the victims (people of Solomon Islands) going to do to prevent or stop this
from happening?
