The Commission Cop-Out

By Ahmed Sheikh

The new elected Somaliland parliament appears to be shirking from its historic responsibilities by ducking the tough choices presented by the acrimonious budget debate. It is abundantly clear to most neutral observers that parliament as a whole is trying to wiggle its way out of taking a straight up or down vote on the budget document presented by the government. In an unnecessary

bid to avoid wrestling with a such a difficult issue, the acting leadership of the parliament quickly handed this hot potato to a 9 member select committee of its members to adjudicate the budget impasse.

It is extremely important that the first major issue taken up by the new parliament be handled with the at most fidelity to parliamentary rules and procedures. “Parliamentary procedure exists to facilitate the transaction of business and to promote cooperation and harmony.” Establishing parliamentary law “rules under which deliberative bodies conduct their proceedings” will not be easy at least in the beginning in Somaliland, but every effort must be made by the house leadership to follow standard practices of other parliamentary bodies in the world.

This will set in motion the proper functioning of the new parliament, establishing the ground rules for handling subsequent controversial bills that will most certainly come its way.          

Members must remember that the first impressions are as important as the business at hand, whether it is fair or not people in Somaliland and in the Diaspora are bound to pass judgment on the outcome of these deliberations. Remember once more that “Success comes to those with integrity, those that are resourceful, and those that make a fabulous impression!”

A Parliament by definition is a “deliberative body”, a place where elected representatives debate and vote on proposed initiatives into law under an agreed upon rules. “Those who join the parliament are supposed to believe that they can articulate there the demands and needs of their constituents.” Expectations were high when the first elected Somaliland parliament was inaugurated couple of months ago; many people believed Somaliland has finally embarked on the road to good governance, responsible

government and the rule of law. Allot is riding on the success of the first elected parliament in Somaliland; it is expected to be a bastion of liberal democracy in the otherwise wretched Horn of Africa.

It is sad to see the new parliament in its first tentative steps to deliberate got bog down, unable to rise to this momentous occasion and chose to pass the buck to a sub committee of nine individuals with no extra-ordinary knowledge or wisdom in budgetary matters. This is like the “wizards deferring to the muggles,” all that is required from parliament is to engage in real debate about the fiscal budget as they did for three days and then schedule an up or down vote and let the chips fall where they may.

Commissions are notorious for in action, they are used as a device for delaying action on controversial issues that people don’t want to take a stand. The only thing that can come out from such  commissions are muddled comprises that satisfies no one.

The Somaliland people did their duty and elected these members of parliament, now it is time to test the “proof of concept” which among other things is to find out if Parliament will hold the executive branch to account and make proposals to strengthen democratic control of the government. If this happens, it will be the equivalent of crossing the “Rubicon” for Somaliland. The government on its volition must tell its ministers in no uncertain terms to “adequately brief the Members of Parliament” and not treat this venerable institution as nuisance.