Dear Editor,
A critical element for this nation’s development and the inhabitants’peaceful co-existence is knowledge of and adherence to the Constitution since it remains the people’s most potent weapon to ward off excesses and tyranny in furtherance of ensuring and protecting our wellbeing. Even with its imperfection the constitution outlines our rights, opportunities and how the nation’s affairs ought to be managed, inclusive of allowing “amendments to reflect future changes…inspired by our collective quest for a perfect nation.” The adage ‘knowledge is power’ becomes increasingly apt in this environment if we are to realize a constructive new political dispensation.
Ours is a nation where the will of the people to govern is known through an electoral system based on Proportional Representation (PR). Through this expression the November National and Regional Elections gave the Executive management (president and cabinet) to the PPP by virtue of them receiving the single majority of votes. At the Regional Democratic Council the AFC, APNU and PPP will lead in the management of the regions based on the majority of votes the respective contenders received.
Further, since our elections also elect members to the legislature, the opposition under the PR system received the mandate to lead in the parliamentary management. Our Parliament is composed of two sections, the government bench and opposition bench, and while in the past a party won the majority of votes to secure leading management of both the executive and legislative, this was not the case in the November elections. In the 65-seat Parliament the Opposition won 33 seats and unless opposition member(s) defected the opposition would have won the Speakership by virtue of their majority. Thus the election of Speaker Raphael Trotman is consistent with our PR system. Anyone therefore saying to this nation ‘convention/tradition dictates the executive holds the Speaker,’ s/he is engaging in cheap politicking or disingenuously disregarding our electoral system.
In addressing governance, the executive and legislative branches function best when they serve as checks and balance on each other. It behooves us therefore to pay keen attention to and agitate for Parliament to return to its constitutional mandate as the supreme organ of the country’s democratic power. Since parliament was never meant to be a rubber stamp for the executive this malpractice must be brought to an end. Expressly stated in Article 50 of the Constitution, “The supreme organs of democratic power in Guyana shall be- (i) the Parliament; (ii) the President; and (iii) the Cabinet.”
Careful note must be given to our governance rank order and ensuring such is upheld. As such it is expected the Tenth Parliament in overseeing the nation’s wellbeing, by among other things, will ensure the president and cabinet are held accountable to the people, they govern in the interest of all the people and manage our resources accordingly. Our parliamentarians are also expected to ensure they uphold the Constitution, with a greater responsibility on the opposition who has been given the mandate to change course.
Note is taken of Mr. Donald Ramotar’s reported statement that “As long as the opposition shows some inclination that they are ready to work with me, I would be ready to work with them. I think for inclusive government to work, there needs to be some level of [dependability] on each other’s word.
We have to build a lot of trust in this situation.” While as head of the Executive it is Ramotar’s call to decide who he wants in his cabinet, he is reminded that on the issue of “inclusive government,” in keeping with our Constitution, there is no caveat, neither does he have the power or privilege to dispense or withhold this tenet at pleasure; it is a guarantee to every citizen and a responsibility of his to execute.
For Article 13 in the Constitution which outlines the ‘Objective of [the] political system’ expressly states, “The principal objective of the political system of the State is to establish an inclusionary democracy by providing increasing opportunities for the participation of citizens, and their organisations in the management and decision-making processes of the State, with particular emphasis on those areas of decision-making that directly affect their well-being.”
It is time to rebuild this nation consistent with our Constitution. It is time to hold the political leaders accountable.
Yours faithfully,
Lincoln Lewis
