“Another one bites the dust” was among comments heard following Sunday’s confirmation that the US Party’s intended Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Cecil Nicholas did not pass the required screening (see related story). After all, the main reason the NA/UP coalition originally formed right after last year’s election failed to materialise was said to be problems with one or more of the latter party’s candidate cabinet members.
The plan is to nominate an as-yet-unknown alternative, who would then have to go through the same vetting process. This could take several weeks, so it appears Justice Minister Rafael Boasman will have to continue carrying the extra TEATT load for now.
People might wonder why political parties propose persons who are unlikely to pass the test based on prior experience in the first place, but the reality is that even the individuals in question may not even realise they have issues that can be considered an obstacle to being appointed public administrator.
As stated before, it can be frustrating for voters to hear months after the elections that someone can’t become a Minister, especially if he or she was on a candidate list. This wasn’t the case here, mind you, but it’s still hardly a pleasant matter especially for the individual in question and his family.
US Party’s board was expected to decide Sunday evening on its nominee to be submitted today, Monday at the latest. However, if possible it might be worth considering not publicly releasing the name until the entire screening has been completed this time around, thereby avoiding unnecessary embarrassment.
Some have speculated as to why party leader Frans Richardson won’t take the job himself, but one has to keep in mind the dualistic system of Government. Elected representatives who give up a Parliament seat to join the executive branch have no guarantee of getting it back and risk being left “outside looking in” should they be forced out of office when, for example, their party is no longer in the governing coalition.
