Judges, Honorable Chair, Distinguished guests, Grenlec Officials, all

We rise to this honorable house, embolden to oppose the motion, “Be it resolved
that parliamentary democracy is the best form of government for developing
nations.”

Good morning

We dismiss the proponents’ definitions

Encyclopedia Britannica – Parliamentary democracy – a form of government

where the party with the greatest representation in parliament, forms the
government. Its leader becomes Prime Minister, who appoints members of the
executive to cabinet. The minority parties are the opposition.

Anthony Giddens – Government – The regular enactment of policies and

decisions on the part of the officials within a political apparatus. These officials
include kings or emperors, their courts, elected representatives and members of the
civil service.

Developing Nations slash Middle Income countries. According to World Bank:

countries with a per capita Gross National income in 2016, between $1,036 and
$12,475.

I will examine the term “Best” and show flaws of parliamentary democracy in
developing nations.

My second speaker will give examples of regimes which match parliamentary

democracy.
We hasten to clarify; the phrase developing nations, implies that parliamentary
democracy; is best for all developing nations, irrespective of present form of
government.

The term “best” Hon Chair is the superlative of good and the comparative better.
An adjective or an adverb used to distinguish an object from three or more of its
type. It indicates an unsurpassed level. We take it to mean, proponents, you have
tried three or more forms of governments to conclude parliamentary democracy
the “best” for ALL developing nations.

However, George McKenna, Professor of Political Science and the Chair of the
Department of Political Science at City University New York, conclusively states,
I quote “For matters of state, there is NO ONE BEST WAY of structuring or
doing things that can be discovered or recommended.” Unquote.

Yet, proponents believe they have discovered such a way. Have they taken into
account factors such as socio-economic , political preference, religion and
indigenous traditional value systems

The British established this parliamentary system suited to their needs. Does it fit
everybody’s cultural values, prejudices, socio-economic and political needs, when
every country in itself is unique “One man’s meat, another man’s poison!”

Another point: that we must bring to notice, Honorable Chair, is best government
for whom? People or politicians?

For under such a regime, the mass of the people often ignored. Anthony Annett
(2001) postulates “quote, “the government is selfish in the sense that it is
concerned purely with the welfare of its own members.” Best government? A
government for the people? Questionable.
Parliamentary Democracy sits on so many flaws:

A 2012 article by Shah, reveals, quote, “A democratic system’s openness …allows

it to attract those with vested interest to use the democratic process as a means to
attain power and influence.”

Fine examples:

Thailand’s leader Shinawatra, in 2001, ran for Prime Minister, bought the
politicians, when the court tried to prosecute him for concealing his assets, bought
the judiciary too. This paved his way, to remain in office. Lack of separation of
powers, Corruption!

South African leader Jacob Zuma, using state funds to build a million-
dollar mansion, while citizens lived, in poverty and deprivation.

Girvan, in ASSESSING Westminster in the Caribbean, posit that in Jamaica

2010, Christopher Dudus Coke, wanted in the USA for drugs and gun running, ‘ran
tings’ in the Prime Ministers constituency. For 9 months the democratic refused to
extradite him to the US, an urban insurrection ensued 70 civilians killed, Prime
Minister Golding was forced to call early elections which he promptly lost.

In the words of PJ Rourke: quote “Giving power and money through parliamentary
democracy is like giving whisky and car keys to a teenage boy!

The weakness of parliamentary democracy! Judges. Power rests in the hands of

the political elite, who wheelit as they will. Hon. Judges, let us not kid ourselves,
Parliamentary Democracy is not thriving in developing nations.
Proponents, parliamentary democracy, best?!? Go knock on the doors of
prospering developing nations, governed by; autocracy, presidential, monarchy,
theocracy - tell them parliamentary democracy is the best for them!

I thank you.