Decorum in the House, please!

Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

Luvs, can we talk! It is becoming increasingly clear that in some cases the electorate voted for boys to perform the task of men. Or, if this is not the case, then it's a case of some being in a state of arrested development, and are clearly not equipped with the intellectual acuity, prowess and basic sense of decorum when in our Parliament dealing with the nation's business. This is a sad departure as we are at a critical juncture of our development where what is needed is solution-based dialogue and not testosterone drivel for petty political point scoring.

It is imperative that those privileged to be elected to serve in our nation's Parliament be made to understand that this should separate them from their base instincts and the propensity to behave like guttersnipes. The shrew-like behaviour often exhibited by some men might endear them to their 'constituents', but is bereft of the 'brought-upsy' that would endear them to the wider population as worthy of commendation, emulation of stable individuals, capable of managing the country's affairs.

Frankly, in a robust democracy, people expect aggressive debate and argument of its leaders. I dare say, however, what is not expected, welcomed, or can be tolerated, is the continued degradation of the House. Our Parliament must be seen and used by its members as a beacon of civility, propriety, and a place of esteem, where the best ideas contend for the advancement of the nation. It must not be reduced to being the pre-eminent place to display our vulgarity, which seems to be the preferred standard. We the people expect more of our parliamentarians in the nation's highest decision-making institution. It's time to raise the bar and move forward in a spirit of respect and civility, as nothing else will suffice.

Rain didn't stop the party

On Valentine's night, it was raining in sections of the city, but that did not stop lovers from going out to celebrate, and in the case of Kingsley Cooper and his beloved Romae Gordon, it was double celebration as it was also Gordon's birthday and no downpour would prevent celebrations. And so it was, the venue (naturally) being Studio 38 at the Pulse Complex, and luvs, it poured, champagne that is, as an intimate coterie of friends joined the couple and toasted the night away. And mon congrats to the Jamaica Constabulary Force's Protective Services George Harrison and his wife, the lovely Shirley McCatty-Harrison, who celebrate their 10th anniversary on February 24.

And speaking of fab people, places and events, people are still talking about the weekend of fabulousness hosted by the Palmyra Foundation in Montego Bay, which saw Robert and Ragni Trotta putting on a simply fab-weekend of fund-raising events, in aid of providing students in and around the city with schoolbooks and other equipment, to assist them in being better able and equipped to access their educational potential. The buzz is, the weekend was all that, and then some!

But speaking of birthday celebrations: happy birthday wishes to the lovely and talented soprano Carol Reid; and the lovely Sabrina Daniels, north coast habitué of Philadelphia, who both celebrate today. Tomorrow will see the end of Aquarius with: Alan Milbourn; Garth Delepenha; Brian Foster; the lovely Carol James, formerly of Spanish Town, St Catherine, now a resident of Washington, DC; model Andrew Dawes, in Toronto, Canada; all sharing a birthday. On Sunday, it will be all about the sign of Pisces and will see: hotelier Paulette Lewis in Whitehouse, Westmoreland, and Fitzroy Pulinski, formerly of Kingston, now in London, celebrating their big day. Monday will see the fabulous songbird and cabaret diva Georgia Henry; reggae singer Hopeton James; athlete Xavier Brown; and the lovely Dawn Thompson, formerly of Morant Bay, St Thomas, but now a resident of Trumbull, Connecticut, all celebrating.

Next Tuesday: public relations practitioner and sportscaster Keith Brown; the fabulous Juliette Moss-Solomon; the ultra-hot Latoya Pink, formerly of Hedonism III; Sven Voelk, of the German Embassy; Kenroy Nigel Simpson, formerly of the Jamaica Defence Force and Bog Walk, St Catherine, now residing in Atlanta, Georgia, blow out the candles. On Wednesday: songbird-turned-evangelist Reverend Carlene Davis Cowan; Montego Bay socialite Ann Chen Ueker; the glamorous Justine Willoughby; Marcel Robinson; the lovely Karen Mullings; Christopher Chin-Loy, now in Toronto, Canada; and Marthum Brown-Tulloch, formerly of Bog Walk, now resident of New York, all sharing the same birthday. Next Thursday will see: the fabulous Ingrid Green; party and events high priest Craig Powell; the charming Patricia Amos; Patrick Campbell, formerly of Montego Bay, St James, now living in Pennsylvania; and People Magazine reporter Debra Lewis-Boothman, Barbados native living in the Big Apple, all making it a special day.

Then belated birthday wishes to: former Director of Public Prosecutions Kent Pantry, who celebrated on the 13th; the mega-talented Weston Haughton, who celebrated on the 15th; Dwayne Tate, who celebrated on the 16th; entertainer and singer A.J. Brown, and Ron Brown who both celebrated yesterday.

Many happy returns to y'all.