From my perspective, things don’t just happen. Some issue or series of events trigger an incident, and the consequences of that cause something to happen.
So, for me, everything happens for a reason and there is a lesson to be learned from it.
To believe that things happen because it’s fate or destiny is scary. To do so is to accept the concept of being on a predetermined path without being able to do anything to alter it.
Think about it. If our fate is preconceived, then everything we do, every decision we make – good and bad – was a given. So our character and behaviour; how well we do, or don’t do; who we love or hurt; and every other aspect of our lives, including when and in what circumstances we die, was destined.
I can’t accept this. I strongly feel that each of us determines our destiny by our actions, and we prosper or perish because of that.
As such, I believe that despite the ugly provocation to which William Duguid was subjected to in the House of Assembly last Tuesday, and his subsequent apology to the public on Friday and to the House itself yesterday, there should be some tangible way he could be sanctioned for his behaviour, like suspending him for the next six sittings and deducting his salary accordingly.
Definitive action like this is needed to send the clear message that bad behaviour will not be tolerated in the highest law-making chamber in our country. And though I empathize with Duguid, given what was said to him, he crossed the line and should pay the price.
I believe that to whom much is given, much is expected, and each member of Parliament has a responsibility not only to represent his or her constituents’ interests, but to carry out their duties with the highest regard for decorum.
Of course, the crosstalk or asides which take place in the House – from which Duguid was provoked – is a noxious feature of parliamentary proceedings here and in other parliaments worldwide. But the fact that this is not the first time MPs have clashed over what was said because of these suggests some order must be brought to this aspect.
But this may never happen. This shocking incident may be treated as a one-off event and, after the humble apology and sincere sounding speeches, be swept under the carpet as the alleged gun pulling matter between Dr David Estwick and Dale Marshall seemingly has been.
However, if the Speaker wanted parliamentarians to recognize the low level to which the quality of debate has sunk because of incidents of such disrespect, he would seek to persuade MPs to arm him with powers to summarily discipline them whenever they became unruly.
This would also be a clear signal to the public that MPs are as horrified as we are over the unprofessional behaviour that was heard on national radio, and they are concerned enough to rein in themselves.
Indeed, last Tuesday the Speaker as the ultimate authority in the House should have taken over after the Chairman of Committees admonished MPs. He should have asked Duguid to explain his actions and afterwards demanded an apology. For sure, Duguid would have pointed out that Health Minister Donville Inniss provoked him, and the Speaker would then be able to speak sternly to him and all others who contributed to those asides.
In essence, the Speaker must take control of his House. Though he, too, admonished MPs yesterday for their unflattering behaviour and expressed his horror at the incident, his appeal to them to never let such an incident occur again did not go far enough.
He should have sought authority to discipline members if they ever strayed again. This would be a sure signal that he would rebuff any creeping belief that one can behave as one likes in Parliament without fear of censure.
Mr Speaker, you missed a golden opportunity to ensure your legacy!
But as I said, everything happens for a reason and there is a lesson to be learned from it. Having examined some of the reasons that caused this incident, the message for MPs is that when unsavoury situations are allowed to persist they can one day blow up in your face.
For the country, the lesson is that we have got to act decisively to stamp out bad practices like littering, noise pollution, poor productivity and the like, which we have allowed to persist with minimal fuss. Think on these things as you celebrate our island’s 46th anniversary of Independence this Friday.
• Sanka Price is the SATURDAY?SUN editor.
