Dear My Sister Christine, Agreed, MPs are supposed to debate legislation. However, don't forget that an MP is also supposed lobby for development projects in his or her constituency. How s/he does it another topic for discussion. Manifestos are important because at the apprpriate time, the electorate can then evaluate the performance of their MP. Some of us are result oriented, if one can not deliver what one promises in the manifesto, what is the essence of being in the parliament? If one produces a manifesto (which would have been based on consultations with the electorate) then the author should know how to implement it. If for the sake of argument the manifesto contains 10 items of concern to the electorate, and only 4 of those items have been implemented (let alone how to measure the success), then the MP scores 40% period. In earlier submission, I had indicated that the cost of a power ransmission line per km is very much less that the cost of a tarred road per km. Therefore, if one does the engineering cost analysis for the cost of the powerline from Amuru to Nebi and present it government, one would discover that it would have been better and cheaper to connect West Nile to the National Grid than to construct Nyagaki Dam!! Why have our elected MPs from West Nile not done it??? In conclusion, therefore, there are scientific ways of measuring success of a policy/pertent issues in a manifesto [and I would not want to indulge in it here]. Surfice to say that manifestos are very important to those who seek elective office for purposes of future acccountability. Regards, Eng. Dr. Ajedra G Aridru.
--- On Mon, 10/18/10, Christine Munduru <[email protected]> wrote: From: Christine Munduru <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [WestNileNet] GOOD HUSTLE To: "A Virtual Network for friends of West Nile" <[email protected]> Date: Monday, October 18, 2010, 1:05 AM Dear Lina, I am very grateful for the first time on this forum for hearing a lady's voice in discussing development issues atleast from the time I joined. I did hear some ladies talk on this forum but not geared towards development issues like you have done. I always wonder what has happened to our ladies, do they lack access to internet or something is wrong. ladies, please let us be proactive otherwise the world will forget us. Thanks for apreciating science cafe and I will send for you a personal email with some details to get more information. I agree with you that it is not enough for our politicians to tell us that they have all our concerns in their manifestos, what does that mean to us as westnilers, manifestos are not service delivery means, they are just ideas on a paper. It is also not enough to say that I will adress a.b,c issues, tell us how you will adress the issues and we need very practical solutions here. Remembering that an MP is supposed to debate legislative issues in parliament which many times they dont do. you find them busy attending funerals, wedding etc in the villages to make themselves popular in order to entrench themselves in power instead of debating policy issues in parliament. Bad policies definatley translate into poor development or non at all. We should not return these MPs who never attend sessions, those who do attend,let us analyze the quality of their debate in parliament. Some of them always get media outside sessions to report on them pretending to be doing work be acitve in parliament. What ability do these MPs have to adress the issues they are claiming to adress since they are not district heads, mayors, LCIIIs etc, what means will they use to achieve development, what practical solutions do they have to the issues being raised, how will they work with the district heads, mayors and LCIII who control resources in their constituencies. We need brief and precise answers here on this forum, please do not refer us to your manisfestos which we do not have copies of and we shall not be there in your campaigns but we shall vote and even influence votes. Our brothers, Lee and Eng. Aridru and others who have not yet said anything here, do us this favor of responding to the questions being raised on this forum. I also agree with Aliga that we need a committee for civic education, it is not yet too late. The president of this forum did ask our opinion on this and it is a concesus so we need a way forward. Thanks Christine On Sat, Oct 16, 2010 at 11:43 PM, Lina Ogwal <[email protected]> wrote: My dear brothers and sisters, I have been a silent reader and follower of this forum for a long, long time. I had just enrolled as some negative comments made their way on this forum, that consequently send some discouraging waves through me. And I believe many people felt the same. Bravo to those who withstood the temptation of deregistering themselves, as a couple of people threatened to do so. I would like to break my silence, by giving thanks to our God for guiding and continues to guide this forum through challenging times, and individuals with expertise for not giving up on West Nile affairs. I want to start with the ongoing discussions regarding the upcoming elections, and what the politicians campaigning for positions in parliament stand for. 1) I totally agree with all the concerns that the members have raised, that need to be addressed by the politicians: Socio/Cultural & Economic Development, Education, Roads & transportation, Electricity Supply, Deforestation, Public Health and health education, Water Supply and Sanitation, Poverty, Hunger & starvation, environmental protection, Youth and Substance abuse, Public University, Unemployment & Job Creation, Promoting West Nile Cultures, Elections & Voter education, etc, etc. Indeed, it is important for the politicians to break down what they are promising (as alluded by many members), not only in a doable manner, but also in an understandable terminology to our grassroots – not saying what they think people want to hear, but what the people deserve as citizens in WN region. All the items mentioned above need serious consideration and urgent action, but energy (in my opinion) is priority number one. Development in all areas of concern can be tackled with ease IF there is sustainable electricity supply around the clock in the region. Almost all sectors depend on energy of some sort. 2) I would like to commend the professionals on this forum, who have offered their various expertise into the process of achieving our goals - especially those who are executing matters on the ground. My special recognition goes to Christine Munduru for the brilliant Health Café idea, to educate the public about health matters, in an individual initiative. I want to learn more about it. 3) The debate sessions for politicians to avail themselves in “spelling out” their manifestos to the people, is a wonderful idea and hope that this will happen. I just want say, I am glad this forum is constructively moving forward for the betterment of our people, and I hope for once, the politicians will see through the eyes of the people. Lina _______________________________________________ WestNileNet mailing list [email protected] http://orion.kym.net/mailman/listinfo/westnilenet WestNileNet is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/ All Archives can be found at http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including attachments if any). 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_______________________________________________ WestNileNet mailing list [email protected] http://orion.kym.net/mailman/listinfo/westnilenet WestNileNet is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/ All Archives can be found at http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way. _______________________________________________
