Wanted: a new breed of Cabinet minister

What is politics all about? It is all about changing other people’s lives for the better.

Those who enter the world of politics with the sole aim of furthering their personal interest are destined to fail. Failure does not necessarily mean that they do not gain or lose a seat in Parliament.

During my strange and unorthodox life in politics, I have known quite a good number of persons who, notwithstanding having failed politically, have always reaped electoral success within their constituencies. Failing in politics means going down in history as having done nothing to change other people’s lives for the better. In other words, with or without a failed politician in Parliament, it does not make a difference whatsoever to the needs of others.

There are quite a good number of politicians in Parliament who, in spite of the lack of human resources and the miserly remuneration they receive, still try to do a good job. Failing in their mission to make things better for others, is in itself a success as long as they have done their best possible effort to succeed.

It is those others who do not as much lift one finger to promote the interests of others, that really worry me. Usually you recognize them from their conspicuous absence in Parliament or political debate. They seek election for the sake of being elected.

This is an area which I believe we will some day have to address constitutionally. The belief that politicians breed, hatch and live in Parliament is a myth which we have inherited from Westminster. There are good politicians in and outside Parliament.

I have never understood why the Constitution insists, that Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries have necessarily to be Members of Parliament. There are good politicians in universities, schools and places of work of all kind that can make good Cabinet stuff, but who are unwilling to jump into the cauldron of a long electoral campaign or have to do with the political rivalry in electoral districts.

Having a Prime Minister with his hands bound to form a Cabinet from what he finds in Parliament only, is in my opinion, not politically salubrious. In order to have a sound administration, a sound and technically competent Cabinet is first and foremost a necessity.

There lies no guarantee that in a world that is becoming more diversified and technical, all the right persons are to be found in Parliament.

Preferably all persons sitting in Cabinet should come from Parliament. But this should not be a hard and fast rule. For example the recent introduction of the post of Parliamentary Assistant, this being not a constitutional office, if retained, does not exclude the appointment to this post of persons outside Parliament. But Parliamentary Assistants are strange political creatures because they were not born out of need, but rather out of political expediency.

Having technocrats appointed to Cabinet does not mean that they enjoy the same rights as members of Parliament. They may sit in Parliament, but they cannot vote. They can participate in Parliamentary debates but cannot move motions.

The good thing about them is, not only are they technically competent in a particular ministerial matter, but they are not subject to the asphyxiating threats of constituents. Removing them and appointing others in their stead is far less riotous and rebellious.