To ensure that the world is blessed with a much better group of Lawmakers who will deliver Good Governance globally, there is a need for the World to discuss, deliberate and formulate fundamental standards that would be binding on the Political class. Not mere pre-election hot air or broken promises!
To begin with, there needs to be a retirement age for all elected representatives. To adhere to 65 would be ideal but in any event no older than 70. As medical fitness is mandatory for any job, there should be no exception of this fundamental rule for Legislators and Parliamentarians.
In today’s competitive world, it is necessary that those we elect should be well educated, at least to a Graduate level. Without this basic well-rounded knowledge, we cannot expect those we elect to be able to draft, deliberate and enact good and worthy laws or to negotiate and interact with others globally in what is now a very interconnected small world.
Those elected must always be people of the utmost integrity focussed on putting people’s needs above all else. This means that those with any criminal record or outstanding criminal charges should have no place whatsoever on the political arena. In fact, such tainted people should never be allowed to grace the corridors of power.
Moreover, to ensure that the political system is infused with diverse, fresh young blood, there is a need to limit those elected to hold office at the most for two terms and to ensure that the choice of new candidates is based on merit and experience rather than the anointing of a select group. Above all, there can be no good governance unless there is clear accountability, transparency and respect for the rule of law in the administration of any country.
May we always be guided by the wise words of the late Dr. Martin Luther King when he said, ‘We need Leaders not in love with Money but in Love with Justice; Not in Love with Publicity but in Love with Humanity’.
- By Aires Rodrigues
