-opposition calls for caps ignored
The government last evening used its parliamentary majority to pass a bill to legislate benefits for former presidents, despite opposition concern over its scope.
Ashni Singh
The Former Presidents (Benefits and Other Facilities) Bill 2009 had a thorny passage through the house, where both the PNCR-1G and the AFC insisted that there be caps put on the entitlements that would be available through the legislation. On a call for a division before the final reading of the bill, it received 32 government votes in its favour and 25 opposition votes against. While the two opposition parties said they did not object to the principle behind the legislation, they withheld support for it in the absence of specific details about the benefits. GAP-ROAR was the sole opposition party to give support to the bill, although the party’s MP Everall Franklin did indicate some reservations and warned the government to be ready to defend it when labour leaders come seeking benefits for the working people.
Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh, who piloted the bill through its final stages, led the government benches on the bill, explaining that it is in keeping with the government’s commitment to openness and transparency and declared that all Guyanese committed to ensuring former presidents are “treated with appropriate respect” would support the bill. At the end of the debate, which saw several caustic exchanges that led Speaker Ralph Ramkarran to call for order, he said he was disappointed that it was as “rancorous” as it turned out to be.
Underscoring a point that would become the mantra for the government speakers, Singh emphasised that it was a “statute-based approach” to enshrine benefits and facilities that have thus far been provided for through custom and practice at the discretion of both the current and previous administrations. He noted that it was in vein that the Office of the Spouse of the President Bill was introduced (which was also passed at yesterday’s sitting, albeit with support of all the parties).
Winston Murray
Additionally, the government yesterday tabled the Leader of the Opposition (Benefits and Other Facilities) Bill 2009, seeking to put into law access to certain benefits and other facilities to be enjoyed by the office holder.
In the days leading up to the debate, the benefits proposed for former presidents had been the subject of a public relations war between the government and the main opposition. The PNCR-1G, in a full page ad in the national newspapers condemned the bill as an attempt by President Bharrat Jagdeo to secure “luxurious living at the expense of taxpayers” through legislation. However, the PPP/C administration launched a campaign to defend the legislation, while accusing the main opposition of double standards and duplicity.
Singh said that while the opposition sought to claim that the issue was about principle rather than any individual, the ads attacked the person of the President, whom they dubbed shameless and selfish.
PNCR-1G MP and shadow finance minister Winston Murray told the Assembly that the main opposition endorsed the principle that the bill sought to enshrine but wanted specifics and he called on the government to send it to a special select committee in order to secure consensus. “If you want a statute-based approach, you should specify the benefits,” he argued.
Murray said that the party believed a bill of such nature should be devoid of controversy, while noting the need for the highest offices in the land to be treated with great dignity. He added that while the party might disagree with the approach of the head of state, it has never questioned the deep commitment of any of the holders of the office to building the nation.
Indeed, he agreed that the previous approach had the disadvantage of exposing the former office holders to the direction of the administration and supported ensuring rights by statute, arguing that it was on the same basis that the party would support the Leader of the Opposition’s benefits bill. At the same time, Murray urged that the benefits and provisions offered under the bill be detailed with greater specificity, complaining that it lacked exact meaning in a number of instances. “We believe that these things should have a cap,” he said, mentioning that the working people are often told that they cannot have increases and have to settle for pittances. “Why must we ensure in law open-ended benefits?”
Among the benefits and facilities proposed by the bill is payment of utilities at the place of residence in Guyana; the services of personal and household staff, including an attendant and a gardener; services of clerical and technical staff, if requested; full-time personal security and services of the Presidential Guard Service at the place of residence; the provision of motor vehicles owned and maintained by the State; toll free road transportation in Guyana; an annual vacation allowance equivalent to the cost of two first class return airfares provided on the same basis as that granted to serving members of the judiciary; and a tax exemption status identical to that enjoyed by a serving President.
While Singh said the benefits outlined in the bill were based on what has been offered to former presidents and in some instances what has been requested, Murray expressed concern about the open-endedness inherent in the bill, pointing out that it did not give any specific numbers. In this regard, he objected to clause 3 of the bill, which states that the minister may make regulations for giving effect to its provisions. He questioned also whether similar amenities were indeed given to late former presidents Arthur Chung or Desmond Hoyte, citing the provisions for an unspecified number of vehicles and the services of the presidential guard. “We certainly didn’t give him anything like this,” he said, referring to Chung. “Maybe we were too mean… but that doesn’t mean we should go overboard now and try to give away the public purse.”
Murray also registered his concern about the proviso for tax exemptions on par with serving presidents, noting that they receive tax-free incomes.
Meanwhile, AFC MP Khemraj Ramjattan declared that with the bill the PPP/C was betraying the legacy of late former President Cheddi Jagan, saying the founders of the party had urged against extravagance. “It makes me feel the ‘PPP’ is now ‘Perks, Privilege and Power,’” he said, “I won’t tell you what the ‘C’ is for-corruption is all over the place.”
He also argued for the bill to include caps, questioning how it could be considered accountable and transparent when it leaves major discretion positive to former presidents and negative to tax payers.
According to him, the bill is scandalous to the extreme, coming as it does when the country is surrounded by financial crisis and all across the Caribbean, leaders are considering pay cuts. And our PPP stalwarts are gonna say yeah to this bill,” he said, although observing that none of the government’s chosen speakers on the bill were members of the governing party. Ramjattan also questioned the haste to pass the bill, noting that it was suspicious on the heels of an announcement by the president that he was uninterested in serving a third term contrary to speculation.
In giving his support to the bill, Franklin said he believed former presidents should be made as comfortable as possible so that they have no need to seek other employment and could remain assets to the governance of the country. He added that a monetary value cannot be put to the service of presidents and urged that the bill not be seen as being intended for any specific person but rather for looking after all former presidents. However, he also said that the government ought to consider provisions for removing benefits in instances where former presidents are criminally charged or impeached as well as a stipulation that residency be a requirement to access the benefits.
Labour Minister Manzoor Nadir, Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, PPP/C MP Odinga Lumumba and PNCR MPs Aubrey Norton and Lance Carberry also spoke on the bill.
Meanwhile, the Leader of the Opposition (Benefits and Other Facilities) Bill 2009 provides by statute access to amenities and benefits by the holder of the office, having regard to the services and dignity attached to the office. According to the bill, the holder of the office shall be entitled at government expense to a rent-free furnished office accommodation; medical attention, including medical treatment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred by him for himself and the dependent members of his family; full time security service at his official place of residence; the services of a secretary or an executive secretary, a chauffeur, a gardener and a domestic servant; and vacation allowance as is applicable to a minister.
Carberry, who conducted discussions for drafting of the legislation, pointed out that in stark contrast to the former presidents’ bill, it specifies the benefits that would be provided.
…See, i tell yall these people can pass anything in parliament that they want…its like the opposition is not there. This is not democracy….its communism!!!!!!
SHF – You and those that live in GY should be the only ones that should be commenting on this issue. Those blog heads that are living outside GY should not be commenting because it is not their tax dollars that will be funding these benefits.
They can pass anything they want because their ‘eyes pass’ Guyanese. Check this out: “While the two opposition parties said they did not object to the principle behind the legislation, they withheld support for it in the absence of specific details about the benefits.”
Tell me how a Parliament can approve a package it never reviewed or does not know details about, eh? And this is the same PPP that bitterly compained against the excesses and abuses of the PNC regime. This is the same PPP that is seeking to return to power in 2011.
I have a gut feeling that Jagdeo is still going to try and pull a third term stunt, but this package is merely a golden parachute in case his mission fails.
Should a new government be instaledd in 2011, I hope the new Parliament revisits this package and bring it in line with Guyana’s economic reality.
SandHurst, what opposition are you talking about.
You darn right Sand, how come parliament cannot pass a bill to ceast these criminals from attacking citizens, pass a bill for those who abuses children, women, men and animals.
Jagdeo and his big boys at parliament think people r idiots, come election, let me see how votes wold go.
SWAT anybody who sends money that is spent in Guyana is paying for this.
boy i know what yo talking about they use democracy as a smoke screen to get their way around the grass roots and seemingly educated; what a petty and shame! having read about the bill there are some questions lingering in my mind as to the need in some instances for such extravagance but nobody can’t stop them they incharge and can do what they want.
SWAT, how dare you dismiss the opinions of overseas Guyanese? Don’t you know that one of the main reasons why Jagdeo could pull off such a stunt is because he knows the Guyana economy is buoyed in part by remittances that include over half a billion US dollars from America? Take away remittances and you are looking at possible street protests and demonstrations because this government is not delivering!
Amarie,
Remittances are not taxes. It does not give you a right to tell the GY government how to spend its tax dollars. If you stop sending money tomorrow that benefit will still be paid. Do you live there? Do you own property there? Do you work there? Do you own a business there? Are you registered to vote in elections there? If you answer yes to anyone of those questions…then I take my words back if the answer is no…then I stand by my original observation.
SWAT, true or false: if overseas Guyanese can’t tell the Guyana Government what to do, then overseas Guyanese can’t support the Guyana Government in what it is doing.
Obviously you are a supporter of the Guyana Government, so shouldn’t you hold yourself to the same principle as an overseas Guyanese and not be posting opinions for the Guyana Government here.
SAND-MAN I am so sorry for you and all the brothers and sisters who have to foot the bills of these people’s LUXURY LIFE I think this is a way of forcing Guyanese out of the country so that whoever is going to take over would have FREE-HAND in colaborating with Venezuela and Brazil. Tank Gad dat me picknee dem na no notin but Guyana an nearly al dem cousins dea in D states. Now me come fry-ken even fuh inves further un D cumbush wa me get
B-kas me na intend to go spen me 2-jill fuh dem DAMN DEVIL enjoy VAT from it…A jus change me mine..A tink A gun dead in D wite-people country. Would we allowed to call Guyana HOME?
You backed the opposition. Now you are saying they are not there.Do you really know what you are doing?
What this demonstrate is that anything the PPP really wants to do they can do and very easily.
So all the nonsense you hear jagdeo hollering the opposition preventing this and preventing that is pure BS.
hehehee sandman you calling it like it is padna, people do not realize that Guyana’s parliament is a sham.
These people have no shame or integrity. Let’s see how they handle union negotiations. A tax exemption for the ex-president is an extravagance Guyana can’t afford and says to all wage earners, you are not of the same importance. This, from a government that is socialist in nature. I hope that any future loans and grants to the country have clauses that none of the these monies can be used for the enrichment of the private citizens. The expectation that the PPP/C will be voted out of office at the next election is remote, as their supporters do not vote for them but vote against the other parties. This sheep-like behaviour will hopefully one day be reversed, and the first order of business of the new government should be the revocation of this travesty.
Imagine there isn’t a residency requirement for these benefits. Tax payers find a way to show your revulsion to this indecent grab. Overseas Guyanese reduce or terminate your remittances. Show them that public service is a calling and not an avenue for personal enrichment.
well there you go as expected, as i’ve said before the bill would be passed anyway dospite all the noise the opposition was keeping,now i presumed that an increase in the wages of the public sector employees would be forthcomming.
Tiger, that wage increase for the public sector is a myth. Not holding my breath!!!
a gardener and servant, no, no no.
caps must be included it should not be a variable, it will lead to abuse.
No surprise here. Anything and everything happens in Guyana. I said it before, Jagdeo and all (if ever any) future presidents will be president for life. Too much of a burden on the country – this should be offensive to the citizens – I guess they are too busy to see what is happening in their own backyard.
Whats in the back-yard is comming forward rapidly to greet them by the front gate
This is not democracy….its communism!!!!!!One blog head says…then there is no democracy and commnism in the land of the free and the home of the brave…how many bills passed by majority democrats with out a single republican vote???
then there was also a constitutional dictator for 8 years where it ran rampant invading a country with no links to 911…we all knew the rest of what took place there….
all the opposition in Guyana wants is a lil bit publicity to rile up their base because it was idle for too long….
Give it a rest!!! Keep it loal to the issue on hand!! What are you trying to do? Bowl a misir googly?
Agreed, SandHurst first, doesn’t really know what’s communism,so he should refrain form making such rash statements. In democratic countries, it’s the perogotive of the ruling majority to pass its legislations through the houses.To pass massive bills, such as constituitonal change, there is the check, that they must gain a 2\3 majority.Communism is\was a totally different story,mainly single party states without or mainly ‘token’ opposition. 32 to 25 isn’t such a ‘whooping’ victory :)
Evileyes, you are a disgrace to the working poor of Guyana. Being able to win an election is not equated to running a democracy or even manage government in a fair and sensitive manner. I don’t believe Guyana is a communist state, but because the PPP refuses to sever the umbilical cord to communism, it lends to arguments by critics that it is behaving like typical communist dictatorships when it runs roughshod over the people.
In principle, the benefits bill for former presidents is good. However, note that the details of the bill have not even been properly debated by Parliament, even though there are grave misgivings about the cost of the items being sought as benefits in a country’s whose economy is so depressed that most Guyanese cannot survive without the IMF, WB, remittances, barrels and money laundering.
Jagdeo has done nothing as President to deserve this kind of package deal and it should be revisited right after he leaves office.
a_mieczkiewicz
teach Sarkar and Andy to read and understand what I wrote….
Andy whom are you calling a disgrace when you are one yourself…Get a life and get a grip and learn to understand what is it you are reading…
Evileyes — ‘How many bills passed by majority Democrats without a single Republican vote?’ I say, Not one.
evileyes, this is an abuse of power, plain and simple. And please don’t tell me about what they PNC did. Because that was long long donkey years ago. Plus two wrong don’t make a right.
SOESDYKE
why not read my blog and comprehend what it says…tell me where in my blog did I mentioned what the peee nc did…dont join de rest and respond to other blog for bolg sakes…
I thought the issue here surrounds Guyana, not the U.S.A. If you are going to compare and contrast Democracies, perhaps you should choose one that is similar to Guyana. Remember, the many nations on this planet that identify as Democratic countries all have their differences and some are bigger and more powerful than others so be fair. Finally focus on Guyana.
Georgie
not here to teach..check it out since u live in de us..
evileyes, trust me I don’t blog for no reason. Sometimes I go days without bolging. But what this Government did is wrong and I am angry about it. As for mentioning the PNC, I know you older flocks has issues with them, from way back when. It is just sometimes we agree to disagree.
Georgie do you not live in the US?
Looks like you live there for the sake of just living but not keeping up to date with your Government & opposition.EE is correct in what was said.
Read this for your information and do not blog on things you know absolute nothing about.
The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a $3.5 trillion federal budget that the Democrat leadership hailed as a return to “fiscal responsibility” and Republicans lambasted as “socialist,” according to the New York Times.
The 233-to-193 vote was divided along partisan lines, with all Republicans voting no, along with 17 Democrats.
L.Leroy
Ronnie, why should the focus be on Guyana only when it was the American Government that wronged Guyana in the first place?
I do not see you blogging on any bad news that comes out of America.Why may I ask?
Or are you so afraid of the very democracy you resides in?
L.Leroy
@ PPP-PPP/C-PNC-PNCR-PNCR1G-AFC-KFC&POPEYE
I am not afraid to discuss or blog about America’s past or present indiscretions. Yes, I’m well aware of America’ s influence on Guyana, especially its involvement in shaping Guyanese politics—so to speak—in the early days. I can go on about how much history I know, but that wouldn’t be necessary here. I will just tell you that what happened to Guyana when it was becoming a Republic was definitely a result of American Imperialism. With that said, I think it is time you take the chip off your shoulders.
You and Evileyes need to come back to the issue at hand. This article is about Guyana, not the U.S. If you two have issues with the U.S. there are scores of forums to air your displeasure over American policies and the like. Don’t muddy this forum with your displaced rhetoric. Finally, focus on Guyana. You seem to be an intelligent person; I’m sure you may have many opinions and suggestions that would be informative to a lot of bloggers.
It is communism, democracy is not only about free elections it is about freedom of the media, freedom of political parties to organize and get their message out unhindered.
Democracy is about freedom for people to associate with whoever they want.
Democracy is about freedom of business owners not to be subjected to political retribution like what is going on with UNAMCO.
Democracy is where the president, opposition and government all respect the laws of the land, so when the judge rules and says yes election scrutineers money should be divided up equally or according to representation. The PPP and PHENC dictators should have adhered to that.
When the judge ruled that media entities have the right to expand their broadcast the government should obey the law not just when it is convenient for them.
This will attract alot of intellectuals for the 2011 elections.Why such a bill ?The president only has two terms in office.He needs to be taken care ok.The other presidents did not enjoy this because they felt they were president for life so they do not need this package to survive .They can serve how long they wanted.Look at Robert Mugabe he does not need a package.
OH please resurrect CHEDDI this government needs a lesson in realpolitics. What a disgrace to the good man.
you can say that again, this Pee peeed pooo is such a departure from many of the things Jagan stood for it is unreal.
When you see the Pee Peed poo not paying sugar workers their due and not spending money on education etc.
This is insanity. I bet you none of those prados would have been purchased if Jagan was alive.
The president is too young for that.imagine 1000.00 dollars
for single parents. Shame.
What is democracy? If you can answer this then you will know this is wrong!!! Forget party affiliation.