Dealing in pork in secret

We have always known that politicians are averse to transparency, especially when it comes to being held accountable over their management of the public resources.

Dishing out pork is better done in the absence of accountability.

Should anyone need proof, they need only look at how the parliamentary committee with oversight responsibility for the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) conducts its business.

It does so in camera.

That is, neither visitors to the legislature nor journalists can sit in on its deliberations, and therefore are unable to report on the goings-on to the wider public. Mr Everald Warmington, the controversial MP and junior minister who is tart of tongue, is the committee's chairman.

Of course, there are a few committees that may handle sensitive matters, particularly to do with national security, that will be required to conduct some of their work in private.

A committee dealing with the CDF is not one - unless they do not want the people to know about the fat they expect to sluice through their fingers.

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