From Mr G. W. Walker, FRPharmS
SIR,-I voted for Sid Dajani when he stood for Council. I voted for Sid because I believed he had the courage to expose the intrigues that were practised by our Council members. The latest press release by our youngest Council member (PJ, July 22, p118) suggests that my vote was not wasted.
I cannot accept the practice that vital financial information is deliberately withheld by senior staff from elected members of the Council. Their election brings with it the stewardship of the Society's affairs. How can we, the general membership, have confidence in a Council that has responsibility without authority - particularly when authority seems to reside with unelected senior staff? More to the point, how long is the Privy Council going to allow the Society to be a self-governing body when it seems to be controlled by an unelected elite?
The questions that Sid raises in his press release are fundamental to the future, not only of our Society, but to our entire profession. Having spent 20 years of my life fighting for a more responsive Council, I can say to Mr Dajani that I have "been there, done that, got the T shirt". I know exactly how it feels to be marginalised by the ruling cliques within the Council.
As for the Vice-President's working group, no one will be surprised to learn that such groups have been in existence since I was first elected in 1975. In my view, such groups exist simply to obscure the problems that they do not wish to raise in full Council debate.
So, colleagues, it is three cheers for Sid. Now it is up to us to give him support. May I take this opportunity to ask all former members of Council to join with me in vocally reiterating the philosophy that Council members must have the authority and information to carry out their elected responsibilities.
It is a coincidence that the Sunday Times of July 23 had a front page article in which it forecast a new Government body to abolish the General Medical Council et al and monitor doctors, nurses and pharmacists. Can we really defend ourselves in the light of Sid's criticisms?
Graham Walker
Totnes, Devon