The Private Interests Of Parliamentarians

EDITORIAL

Somaliland ’s newly elected parliamentarian have in the last few days been debating a new set of House rules. So far the deputies haven’t considered any rule requiring them to register their private business interests. Such a rule must be introduced and applied as quickly as possible so as to discourage members of parliament from being tempted to compromise public interests for the sake of promoting their private interests.

The position taken by parliamentarians from the opposition as well as a number of ministers with regard to the current dispute between the private telephone companies and the ministry of Posts and Telecommunications has already raised suspicion. There are wide-spread rumors that there are financial motives behind the support advocated for the companies by some members of parliament and the cabinet as well. But since our members of parliament haven’t yet declared their private business interests, it is difficult to know whether they have been motivated by business imperatives or simply by expectations of a future pecuniary benefit.

It is therefore necessary that our new House of Representatives put in place a code for standards and privileges to be followed by members of parliament while conducting their public duties. The citizens including owners of private companies have the right to lobby their representatives in parliament for support of their case but it is important under such circumstances that members of parliament are obliged to distinguish between their public role and their private business interests.

An early introduction of House regulations requiring declaration of personal private interest and compliance with advocacy rules would remind members of parliament to exercise caution before taking up individual cases or lending support to outside financial interests.

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