Parliament must lead by example, not by noise

THE EDITOR, Madam:

The scenes of Tuesday, November 3 in the Parliament when tempers reportedly came close to turning physical, should embarrass every one of us.

Shouting, expletives and crude, obnoxious behaviour have no place in the House, and they must never be tolerated in any way, shape or form. If a citizen used such language in a courtroom, he would be ordered out or charged with contempt, so why should lawmakers be held to a lower standard?

Disagreement is the lifeblood of democracy, and nobody is asking our representatives to agree on everything. What we are asking is that they argue with facts, reason and conviction rather than with noise, insults and intimidation.

Our country already struggles with violence, from the domestic dispute that turns deadly to the quarrel on the road that ends in bloodshed. We tell our people to walk away, to talk it out and to choose peace, but they are hardly likely to listen when the leaders who say these things cannot control their own tongues.

When a young person watches a member of parliament roar down a colleague or storm out in a rage, that lesson does not stay in the chamber but follows him into the classroom, the yard and the community.

Discipline is not weakness, and dignity is not stiffness. A leader who can hold his temper under pressure shows a strength that no loud voice or sharp insult could ever match.

The Speaker must be respected, the Standing Orders must be enforced without fear or favour, and those who break the rules must face real consequences. Both sides of the House carry this responsibility, because decorum cannot be the duty of one party alone.

Jamaicans work hard, pay their taxes and sacrifice daily, and they expect their representatives to conduct the nation’s business with seriousness and self-respect. They did not send anyone to Gordon House to perform for the cameras or to settle personal scores.

Let those who serve remember that the whole nation is watching, and that the example they set will shape the character of the next generation. If we want a peaceful, respectful and orderly Jamaica, it must begin at the very top.

May dignity, discipline and good conduct return to our Parliament, and may it once again be a place we can point to with pride.

FRANK MANBORDE