Saturday, August 11 2012

THE EDITOR: The Prime Minister’s decision to appoint Honourable Jack Warner, Minister of National Security, as acting Prime Minister during her absence is appalling. One must question the Prime Minister’s faith in the minister considering the serious allegations swirling about him.

It is a sure sign that democracy is under attack in Trinidad and Tobago that people with corruption allegations hanging over their head can be appointed to a high political office.

The founder of the Global Organisation of Parliamentarians Against Corruption, (Gopac) John Williams, recently stated in “Politics Insight”, “Parliamentarians around the world have failed to represent their constituents, thereby allowing dictators and corruption to flourish . . . No one votes for poverty yet we see misery and despair around the world; mostly due to parliamentarians who do not or will not exercise democratic accountability over their government.”

GOPAC is an action-oriented network of parliamentarians committed to ensuring transparency and accountability in government. Through leadership, education, and by building a strong coalition of elected officials, members of GOPAC are working to bring democratic accountability to governments all over the world.

As a member of the Global Organisation of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC, and Secretary of the GOPAC Executive, I call on the Members of Parliament to hold the government accountable for ethics and morality and on the parliament to condemn this appointment by the Prime Minister.

MARY K KING

Secretary, GOPAC