A Parliamentary Representative (MP) is Elected by the People to Serve
According to Wikipedia, "A member of Parliament is the representative of the voters to a parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this category includes specifically members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members, such as senator. Members of parliament tend to form parliamentary groups (also called parliamentary parties) with members of the same political party. In everyday use, the term Member of Parliament is almost always shortened to the initialism "MP".
In any democracy, the representation of the people must be the basic source of authority for a body that makes the laws under which society operates. The electorate will therefore expect that their respective member of parliament represent their interests.' But the question remains: Who does the MP represent? Is it only those who elected him/her? Or Is it also those who opposed his/her election? What if a piece of legislation proposed by the MP's own party is contrary to the wishes of his electorate?
Most MPs will agree that the only tenable view is that they are representatives, not delegates nor dictators, of the people who elected them. They are called therefore to exercise judgment on behalf of those they represent rather than subordinating their views to them. This, says one writer, "does not mean that they can ignore constituency interests but it does mean acceptance of the position that the vast majority of MPs are elected as Members of political parties rather than as individuals and that the manifesto commitments of the party provide the platform for action."
Some MPs do try their best to meet their constituency commitments by regular meetings with constituents in their electorates. However, there are those who sometimes forget that they have been elected by the people to serve and it is only when elections are around the corner that they become visible in their own constituencies. Our people deserve better and if they are not given proper representation, MPs should know that these people have the power in their hands to decide at the next general election. In fact, if their concerns are not addressed, no amount of party commitment can guarantee a return to parliament at the next election. Hence the reason I believe for what is referred to as "office days" in many countries (at least one day a week) by parliamentary representatives, to ensure that every community member is afforded an equal opportunity to meet with his/her parliamentary representative.
Therefore, the recent general elections held in Grenada should be a lesson for all parliamentary representatives, not only in the Caribbean region but worldwide. The power in electing any candidate to public office is in the hands of those eligible to vote. Again, I repeat: Power is in the hands of the electorate. In fact, the people have the power to "remove from office" or "put into public office" any political party by the use of their votes. Let us never under-estimate the power vested in those eligible to vote.