I want all of us to visualise an NCOP that acts and functions like a true upper House. I want us to imagine an NCOP that operates like a first chamber, provides expertise to legislation like a house of lords and has the respect of the nation, like the senate; and just like any upper House in any country, the interests and needs of the provinces we represent are what should drive us to deliver the best quality of work in the national legislature. We are not the national council of parties, we are the National Council of Provinces. It is about time we start acting as such.