Dear Editor,
Sometimes it appears as though time, progress and development seem to march right past Guyana, especially when one looks in particular at the state of our politics. The current impasse surrounding the position for Speaker of the House of Assembly is emerging as an unnecessarily messy activity that sadly leaves many fair-minded Guyanese distressed at the current state of affairs.
The current opposition in Guyana have to work together whether they like it or not, if they are to help steer Guyana back onto a successful path. Before the elections, many had argued that the new government could have only been won by a united opposition should they put aside their petty differences. This same group of people is now in a position where they are the majority in parliament. The Speaker of the House is supposed to be a position the opposition should decide on based on their parliamentary majority, but instead what Guyanese are faced with is a political soap opera unfolding among the opposition parties APNU and the AFC. Is this really necessary?
The Speaker of the House when simplified is supposed to be a person who acts as chief officer, the chairman and highest authority of the House of Assembly and must remain politically impartial at all times. During debates, the Speaker is expected to keep order and call members of parliament (MPs) to speak. In the United Kingdom and other ‘Westminster‘ countries, this person is elected by the MPs.
It is short of tragic that the combined opposition cannot sensibly agree on a suitably qualified and experienced person to be nominated for the role of Speaker. Is this the change Guyanese voted for?
Demwaves.com is now reporting that APNU is willing to rotate the position of Speaker with the AFC. Again I ask: Is this really necessary? Is it that difficult for the opposition to propose a set of names and have them voted upon by its members? Whoever wins the most votes is the person to be nominated. Must Guyanese really have to go through this nonsense of a stalemate for this very crucial position in Parliament?
It is understandable that both APNU and the AFC and even the PPP would all like to have their person to be Speaker, but it is my candid opinion that this position should be one that is voted upon by all MPs. The person with the most votes gets the position. Our politics cannot be that immature where members from a different political party cannot on principle vote for a candidate from another party to be Speaker? Or are they?
If this imbroglio for Speaker of the House marks the beginning of this crucial era of Guyanese politics, then I am afraid that Guyanese might want to lower their expectations of the opposition.
Yours faithfully,
Richard Francois
