Ministers or government officials are not above the law

Reference is made to editorial “Partygate” – a comment on the Prime Minister’s office (and himself) flouting of Covid protocol in the UK. Public opinions and Members of Parliament, from both sides of the political aisle, have assailed the PM. Will the same happen in Guyana or Trinidad or other third world countries where such rules are routinely flouted? In Trinidad, a government Minister is excoriated for having a party on a cruise boat wherein virtually no one was wearing mask or social distancing. They were dancing and jamming one another, it is reported. He has not been held accountable as yet. At least in the UK, Johnson apologized and promised to do better. Have politicians apologized in Guyana for violating established rules?

As for Johnson’s future, he is politically finished. It is just a matter of time before he resigns over partygate. His survival is untenable. For his replacement, some commentators turn to Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak. Rish Sunak has been the most popular cabinet member with higher approval ratings that the PM. He also enjoyed, at one time, the highest approval ratings of all Chancellors. The Tories may well return to Teresa May, who Johnson had replaced when she resigned after failing to get Brexit quickly implemented, or some other popular cabinet member. One outcome of the investigations into partygate is there are consequences. Ministers or government officials are not above the law. One cannot have different rules for different folks. Everyone must obey the law, including in Guyana and Trinidad.