A week into the rumpus the Metropolitan Police Commission and the Crown Prosecution Service have announced that they will convene a panel of lawyers and policemen to see if they should mount investigations which might lead to prosecutions. But people clearly want more than a convention of potential wrist slappers. There is a difference between manipulating a cozy system and downright dishonesty. Where fraud has been perpetrated prosecutions must follow. If the law does not do better than waffle on this, if there is seen to be one standard for lawmakers and another for the rest of us, then legal institutions will fall into as much disrepute as parliament now finds itself in.
Many now want the reforms of parliament to go further than cleaning up the expenses system. Does Britain really need as many as 645 MPs at Westminster, many are asking, especially now there is a Scottish Parliament and a Welsh Assembly too?
The next crucial stage, the one we are entering now, is that of MPs having to explain themselves to their constituents on their expenses claims. There is only one way of clearing the air: these meetings should be held in public and with the media present.
GOD BLESS YOU PRESIDENT CORY!
Showing posts with label Briton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Briton. Show all posts
Monday, May 18, 2009
CNN Videos Showing British Anger Boiling Over at MPs Excessive, Outrageous Claims
18 May 2009
Nothing can capture the outrage felt by the British public involving outrageous expense claims by their MPs than the video clips showing ordinary Brits expressing indignation over the still-brewing scandal.
Here are some video clips from CNN:
The disclosures have led to the resignations of Labour MP Shahid Malik and Conservative MP Andrew Mackay. More casualties are expected as the Daily Telegraph continues publishing more of these outlandish expense claims.
Similar disclosures of official expense claims by public officials should be done here in the Philippines so that voters, especially now that local and presidential elections are less than a year away, would have a fair, reasonable and undeniable basis of the actuations of their elected leaders.
CNN's reporting on this issue states one of the bottom lines: "There is only one way of clearing the air: these meetings should be held in public and with the media present."
Remember the revelations of Navy Lt. Senior Grade Nancy Gadian and Malacañang's refusal to create a special board of inquiry to investigate her allegations while threatening to have her "apprehended"?
We need not wait for the 2010 elections to see change in the Philippines — we can have some of it now by asking for full and public disclosures of matters affecting the public interest!
For elected officials who spend the people's money, that's the way the Britons want it, that's the way we Pinoys should have it as well!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Quarantined Briton Leslie Carr in Hongkong Acquires Overnight Celebrity Status Because of H1N1 Swine Flu Virus
THE LESLIE CARR H1N1 GLOBAL WATCH
For a guy who's supposed to be enduring a "Brit's Hotel Hell," as Sky News puts it, Leslie Carr I'd say is one lucky Brit!
I picked up Leslie's story yesterday at around 9:20am after putting up a post asking people to continue praying for former Philippine Cory Aquino who was scheduled to undergo operation at midday yesterday. Then, I went to work on other things.
By mid-afternoon, I noticed that people from around the world were picking up the Leslie Carr post as line after line of my Feedjit widget displayed "Briton Leslie Carr ..." About 2 out of every 3 readers; I don't have many readers but I can recognize a trend when I see one. I knew we had something major here.
Overnight, this Briton has acquired celebrity status. If he can strike a deal with a publisher right now then come up with his book on or about the time he emerges out of quarantine on Friday from Hongkong's H1N1 Hilton (whoa!), then, he's got it made! Leslie Carr, runaway best-selling author. The title of his book? Take your pick?
"Held Against My Will ... But Slowly Liking It!";
"I Survived the H1N1 Flu Virus Quarantine in Hongkong!"
"A Briton in Hongkong's H1N1 Hilton!"
The subtitle "A Rare Inside Look at Hongkong's Hotel H1N1 Quarantine" by Leslie Carr.
Then, from businessman, Leslie Carr will have another impressive appendage to his resume —inspirational speaker, a survivor of the H1N1 virus quarantine.
In all seriousness, Leslie Carr's story begins with shock, utter disbelief and dismay ... is settling down into some comfort and familiarity and eventually, hopefully, will end in triumph ... not only for Leslie Carr and the thousands of people who are now following his ordeal ... a triumph for the people of Hongkong, a key battleground in the fight against SARS, of China ... all of Asia including my country the Philippines which is a next-door neighbor.
From where I sit, I can only pray that nothing goes wrong where Leslie Carr is.
Who knows?! Leslie might even get knighted after surviving this experience! Sir Leslie Carr, Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, anyone?!
This is one of the latest Leslie Carr video clips:
When I return, I'll try to better organize my presentation of the ongoing Leslie Carr H1N1 Global Watch.
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