General News of Saturday, 20 April 2013
Source: citifmonline
Retired Supreme Court Judge, Justice V.C.R.A.C Crabbe has criticised the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for reducing the problems of the country to what he refers to as “mere propaganda.”
According to him, the conduct of the two parties are creating tension and contributing greatly to the growing polarization in the country.
“We are all witnesses to the extreme tensions and sporadic violence in elections. The high levels of acrimony and partisanship which characterized political discourse in our country,” he stated.
Over the last decade and half, we have seen the two leading political parties, NDC and NPP engage in incessant propaganda which is beginning to erode public confidence in the democratic process.”
He added: “The litigious outcome of the 2012 election results underscores the deepening polarization in the country. The time has come to call a clarion call; a clear and loud call for a national conversation.”
Justice Crabbe also warned that the political system of “winner-takes-all” was destroying the country’s 21 years old democracy, adding that there was the need for the political leadership to make reforms.
“It is now becoming clear that the processes of our democratic politics in our fourth republic is being perverted. During the 2012 election campaign, we witnessed lies, deceit, acrimony, excessive partisanship all culminating in the call for a serious approach to the syndrome of winner-takes-all philosophy in our contemporary politics.
The proposals of the 1968 commissions in the composition of the counsel of state provided that there should be the minority leader as a member of the counsel of state. They attached great importance to compromise and moderation. They are the ultimate in political wisdom,” he emphasised