Political commentator and media personality Dr Sylvia Blyden has defended the right of citizens and the media to publicly scrutinise and criticise parliamentary leaders, following controversy over the recent passage of a constitutional amendment bill.
Dr Blyden said the 1991 Constitution protects freedom of expression and allows citizens to hold public officials accountable when they believe their conduct is contrary to the national interest.
Her comments were directed particularly at Speaker of Parliament Segepoh Solomon Thomas over his interpretation of Sections 89 and 91 of the Constitution, which govern aspects of the constitutional amendment process.
According to Dr Blyden, the interpretation could potentially allow a constitutional amendment to proceed with the support of only 19 Members of Parliament out of the 149 elected MPs. She argued that such a scenario would raise fundamental questions about democratic representation and constitutional governance.
She further maintained that, with the exception of the constitutional protections enjoyed by the President while in office, public officials remain subject to legal and constitutional scrutiny. She said citizens have the right to challenge actions they believe breach constitutional or legal standards.
Dr Blyden also rejected the notion that criticism of the Speaker should be viewed as an attack on Parliament, arguing that public officials must remain open to scrutiny when exercising powers entrusted to them.
The constitutional amendment bill has continued to generate public debate, with politicians, lawyers, civil society actors and other stakeholders weighing in on the parliamentary procedure and the interpretation of the relevant constitutional provisions.