Fairly appointed and fairly disappointing

I agree with Robin Grant. It was most remiss of John Arnone to attack the prime minister.

I am sure Grant was brought up the same way as I was, not to mock the afflicted or kick a (wo)man whilst he was down. However it is easy to understand Arnone’s frustration.

After two years in office the prime minister took on the role of defence minister while admitting she had no experience and did not know the workings of the ministry. 

In the first instance this was absurd. In the second it is a reminder that her government failed to give a performance review a year ago when she should have had a report from each ministry and ought to have known quite a bit about every ministry. She had plenty of time to read such a report on her travels abroad.

Her lack of understanding of her duties under the Constitution, that she is so keen to revise without knowing its contents, gives Arnone much justification for his angst. It also reminds us that she had the same qualifications to become prime minister as she had to become defence minister. Grant would have it that she was fairly appointed. I would join Arnone in saying she has been fairly disappointing.

Richard Bowler

Bangkok