On Speakers – and falls

-Some August-month Ramblings

With respect, I repeat my own view that the typical working-class citizen of this big beautiful, but blighted land makes little time to consider the role of the National Assembly and its chairpersons, described as speakers.

After voters elect their representatives to the “honourable house”, along with some government being put in place those voters quickly become dis-engaged citizens hustling a living and leaving governance to those they vote for. Technical, legal and constitutional matters are left to “de government” and “de Parliament”.

Happily, the Ninth and Tenth Parliaments seem to be changing many citizens’ attitudes to the goings-on in the assembly and the superintendence of the Speaker(s).  A word on our honourable, distinguished speakers, over the years.

Speakers – then and now
Parliamentary historian Frank Narain would remind us of the earliest legislative bodies created and established by the Dutch between 1718 and 1803. Among them, the Council of Policy, the Court of Policy, the Court of Justice, the College of Keizers. Then came the British, their modifications, constitutions and “modern” Parliaments.
I’ll skip the earliest “British” legislative Councils to fast-forward to 1947 when the indomitable Cheddi Jagan imposed himself, elected by the working-class, onto those law-making bodies.

The Speaker he encountered was Eustace Gordon Woolford. Perhaps oriented to the British and to the merchant-class, Woolford wasn’t too friendly to Cheddi and Cheddi would not have been as versed in Parliamentary/Constitutional nicieties then. Woolford was again speaker when Cheddi and Forbes and Sydney and Ashton and Janet, Jessie, Clinton, Ramkarran Et al, won the first popular vote in 1953, May. Sir Eustace prevailed again when the British kicked out the 7-8-month PPP government and installed an Interim (Nominated) House to run things up to 1957.

Enter Sir Donald Jackson as Speaker in the PPP-dominated Council. He was very afro and very urbane, upper middle-class and aloof! Came another PPP 1961 elections victory with Rahman Baccus Gajraj as Speaker. Now an Indo-Guyanese upper-class gentleman whose impartiality seemed genuine but whose business-orientation was to be protected.

The turmoil before the 1964 elections and their aftermath ushered in the PNC-UF coalition government. That 1964 to 1966 House was to experience post-riots consideration and political Independence. Old “PNC Headmaster”, witty and colourful, A.P. Alleyne was the Speaker. (I loved him as chairman of PNC Bourda Green rallies!)

The PNC started winning elections seriously from December 1968. From the 1969 second Parliament, we had the return of businessman R.B. Gajraj, then Speaker Sase Narine a wealthy pro-PNC Hindu of sorts; Narine was entertained up to June 1992, a true PNC Speaker.

The “New Dawn” broke in Parliament (the sixth) in December 1992 with Cheddi’s brother Derek Chunilall Jagan as Speaker. This gentleman, like his colleague Pandit Reepu Persaud, seemed versed in Parliamentary procedure, but I could not endure his accent and his “English”!

Seventh Parliament saw Derek Jagan continuing; Eighth and Ninth Sessions gave us the PPP’s Hari Narayen Ramkarran, called Ralph, as another erudite, knowledgeable chairperson of the Assembly between May 2001 and 2011. Here comes now the Honourable Raphael Trotman. I feel a few sentences on this current Speaker, who is “Administering“ an Opposition- Majority House, are in order.

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Speaker Trotman…
Of decidedly- rich legal pedigree, Mr Raphael Trotman, himself an attorney-at-law, has landed himself a prominent post in the national scheme of things.
I’m acquainted with his father Justice Trotman; his mom was/is a charming legal mind too.

His name cropped up in the Media when allegations were printed against him and new colleague Mr K. Ramjattan. He left the People’s National Congress (PNC) after asking the Party to fess-up about their years of wrong-doing.

I recall his public rejection of personal involvement in (electoral) politics just before the 2011 Elections, as he made sounds tantamount to coming out of his Alliance-For-Change politics. Lo and Behold! Mr. Trotman landed in the Speaker’s Chair from India!

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The Falls- And the Fall-out
We can’t assess Mr Trotman’s overall record at this early stage. As Speaker, he is immersing himself in procedure. From the constitution, the statutes, the Standing Orders and from Overseas Parliamentary sources. He wants a Parliamentary Legal Office established. He has to deal with an aggressive Attorney- General and a cool, calm luminary for a Chief-Justice, who himself should attract a legal Oscar Award for acting. Good for the “new” Speaker.

But I had to reject a good friend’s views last week. This dude, political and legal in orientation, pointed to the unprecedented decision by Speaker Trotman to re-entertain the Amaila Falls Bill, after  P.M. Hinds’ request, quoting certain Standing Orders.

My friend sought to suggest a meeting among Hinds, Hughes, Ramjattan – and Trotman – before Trotman’s decision. I chased my friend away!
Then I read of Mr Nigel Hughes’ Fall- after the Fall of Amaila Falls.  Discuss….

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August Ramblings…
Hail Carifesta Eleven, beginning today in Suriname. Many are aware of the objectives of this four-decades-old arts festival of the Caricom Region. Has it really achieved those objectives? What are we, the pioneers, showcasing this time around? Why not hop across to the East.
Great Stabroek Sport. I asked about the “Cricket Bill” in Parliament and you answered.

We continue to bring America here: the accents on the radio and TV; the Guyanese “Summer”, “Florida-Style” Housing communities; T/20 and R. Kelly.
How’s the case against the young Muslim teacher, accused of assaulting many boys, coming along, will the accusers testify?
Will repairs to school- buildings be done by this month end?

I predict that article 165 of our constitution will “cause trouble” later on.
I know who owns the popular Main Street Palm Court. But who now owns the Old Customs House to the south of Palm Court?
Hear the Customs Officer at JFK airport, New York: “So you are from Guyana- where they conceal cocaine in suitcases, wood, rice, peppers, pholourie, bicycle-wheels, fish, roti, rum, bath towels and Ochroes?” “Yes sir, I’m a proud Guyanese.”

A wake in tribute to CCWU’s Roy Hughes is scheduled for this evening at GAWU’s Head Office in Kingston, Georgetown.
Til next week!
(comments? allanafenty@yahoo.com)