Dear Editor,

During the recent parliamentary workshop, I was heartened to hear so many people agree that a vibrant parliament is the heart of a functional democracy. As both the local and foreign participants pointed out, Guyana needs a more active parliament. However, I was disappointed that no one seemed to address the major failing of parliament in Guyana which is that our Members of Parliament are not independently elected.

Parliamentarians are appointed by their party to carry out party business. If the people elected their MP’s directly, those Members would carry out the peoples’ business instead. Our parliament, on all sides, has many members who are timewasters and seatwarmers. Without direct elections, however, we will never have the kind of active, responsive MP’s we want.

The advantages of a parliament elected through a direct constituency system are clear. No MP would be forced to vote the party line. Every vote would be a ‘conscience vote.’ Parliamentarians would be free from the dictates of the executive and we could finally have real power sharing and constructive politics.

Yours faithfully,

Imam Baksh

Editor’s note

In England members of parliament are elected by constituency. However, when a government measure is before parliament and the party whip is on members are required to vote for the bill.