Dear Editor,

I listened to one of our local radio talk shows a few weeks ago and, had it not been for the professionalism and balance of the host, I would have thrown up my arms in total despair for the future of our country.

One of the guests was a young junior minister and member of parliament. While accepting the fact that the condition of the roads in his constituency was deplorable, the MP went on to chide his constituents for holding MPs accountable for such matters as roads and water supply. He sealed this surprising attack with the declaration: “I don’t see them protesting in front of NWA and NWC when the roads are not fixed or there are water problems…”

Later, on that same programme, a caller who identified himself as a constituent of that very MP called to complain that he was unable to find the MP in office, and that despite letters seeking an appointment with him, he was unsuccessful in getting the same.

The MP, quite unashamedly, told his constituent that he remembered receiving his letter and that he had passed it on to his assistant to deal with the matter. It would have been interesting to find out what he told his assistant to tell the gentleman.

As the matter had to do with encroachment and resultant loss on a property, I would not be surprised to learn that the MP told his assistant to refer his constituent to the police or Ministry of Agriculture. As the constituent denied ever receiving any calls from the MP’s assistant, we really will never know the outcome.

However, based on the MP’s earlier response regarding the roads in his constituency, we are left to speculate that such matters are well below the remit of members of parliament these days. And we could speculate further that even granting a constituent an appointment or making contact with him personally is beyond the pale of ministerial duty.

It appears that quite possibly the majority of MPs believe their jobs do not require them to personally and vigorously serve their constituents by redressing their problems through the appropriate government agencies or bodies. We don’t need our MPs to be referral agents. We certainly know whom to speak to, but we elected them to do so on our behalf.

The encounter with this one particular MP brings into focus what I have suspected lately regarding our elected representatives. They have become elitist and arrogant in their posts as honourable servants of the people. The very people who elected them and pay them are treated with neglect. An MP is supposed to be the link between his constituents and government. He or she is not in Gordon House to uphold political party positions, but rather the position of his or her constituents. If the member’s constituents’ position conflicts with that of his party, then he has some options. He can resign from his party and sit as an independent; he can resign as a member of parliament; or he can display moral courage by boldly representing his constituents’ position. His constituents must be represented at all costs.

Colonel Allan Douglas

Kingston 10

alldouglas@aol.com