I did my best to discover just who reviewed and “reformed” Mr Burnham’s 1980 Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana. I hope I have (accurately), some of those names. For these are the minds, of our elected and selected representatives, which gave us the current Supreme Law of our Green Land.
I promised I would share these personalities with you. Especially you citizens interested enough to know who came up with the National Document which governs our lives, but which many of the same dudes – properly described as Commissioners, having been members of a Constitution Reform Commission – now claim to be crying out for further reform. On the grounds of improved democracy and relevance for today’s realities.
But briefly, let me remind you that the Constitution of the country is the official approved document containing the fundamental laws, principles and precedents upon which the State (or any entity) is organized and governed.
Additionally of course, the Constitution of Guyana is filed with the guiding principles and aspirations for true nationhood – including all citizens’ rights and freedoms. Those rules, laws, guidelines constitute what the State of Guyana is, or aspires to be. As the State evolves, develops or embraces new ideologies, legislators, and those they represent, see the need for Constitutional amendments to give effect to those new circumstances hopes and objectives.
Thus the efforts of our Parliamentarians and other “Brains” to amend and improve our post-Independence, post Republican Constitutions.
Our Constitutions were “reformed” in 1928, 1953, 1961, 1966, then recently, between 1997 to 2003.
The current document is described as “Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana (with Amendments to 12th August 2003)
A significant portion of our legislators and population share the view that it is time to amend many of the Provisions and Clauses of this document. But who are the last “reformers” who left us this Constitution?
Some recent “reformers”
Well, some of the members of the special select committee of the National Assembly of the First Session (1992-1997) of the Sixth Parliament of Guyana to review the Constitution, just some, included Bernard DeSantos, Reepu Daman Persaud, Feroze Mohammed, Clement Rohee, Pauline Sukhai, Winston Zephyr, Komal Chand, Winston Murray, Hukumchand, Clarissa Riehl, Arthur Alexander, Rupert Roopnaraine, Manzoor Nadir.
Among those on the Constitution Reform Commission (1999) were Reepu Daman Persaud, Rupert Roopnaraine, Bernard DeSantos, Moses V Nagamootoo, Gail Teixeira, Haslyn Parris, Vincent Luther Alexander, Deryck Bernard, Randolph Kirton, Hari Narayen Ralph Ramkarran, Vidyanand Persaud, Rev. Haley, Avril Trotman, Ramdial Bhookmohan, Faizal Jafarally, Miles Fitzpatrick and others.
So fellow Guyanese Citizens, the above lists indicate the otherwise citizens who produced what we have now as our Constitution but which even those wise citizens wish to further “improve”.
I leave you with two teasers: Find out who sat consistently on these “Reform” groups and whether those individuals are crying out now to change what they themselves left in. (Remember now – circumstances, and people’s expectations change constantly.) Secondly, find out just how the Constitution of Guyana can be amended.
You might be surprised to find that there are times when the electors must actually vote (by way of a referendum) to have Constitutional changes effected. Article 164 specifies what other Articles attract specific procedures before they can be altered. But even with the complexities, should not the legislators and the government commit to changing what needs changing? Discuss…
The Commissioner – General!
Just a brief reminder about the responsibility – and power – of Commissioner General Khurshid Sattaur of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA). This Executive has to ensure that government collects all revenues due to it, to spend on the development of all Guyana. Tax Chiefs are usually not the favourite executives of citizens. But actually, the Chief is just implementing professionally what the lawmakers decided. Naturally such top officials must be persons of impartial professionalism and of unimpeachable integrity.
I am very intrigued by one “authority” our Commissioner-General allegedly (?) legally (?) has. Is it true? That Mr Sattaur can ask any person constructing (massive) buildings to explain to him how he/she/they came by their financing? Especially if he is beset by doubts or uncertainty with respect to sources of some people’s funds? Did our Commissioner-General ever have his doubts?
“Casual” murders?
A sad and sickening reality of our society caught my attention, captioned as it was in this sentence from the editorial of the last Sunday Stabroek (July 21, 2013). The sentence warned: “The number of casual murders in the course of robberies is alarming, nearly all of them in circumstances where, for the specific purpose of theft, no one needed to be killed at all”.
No need for me to repeat the well-known threat of gun-crimes, availability of illegal guns and the ages of the younger gunmen. But it is indeed chillingly frightening to know that honest vulnerable citizens, like you and me, could be shot dead “causally”. “Collateral damage” as fall-out from trigger-happy robbers.
I offer just one small suggestion once again: let the police conduct sudden, surprise searches at concerts, dance halls, bus terminals, night clubs, street corners etc. Sacrifice “rights and freedoms” to lessen knives and guns off the streets and off the criminals.
Ponder…
1) So we’re hosting the Region’s Teachers in the Garden City of Georgetown in a few days’ time? Consider the issues to be explored and the local environment to be discovered.
2) Will they discuss the role and status of private schools?
3) Our own GTU elections are always brimful of intrigue.
4) Since one GECOM Commissioner blew such a powerful whistle on the entity’s CEO, is it not reasonable to expect a comment from that body’s head – Chairman Surujbally?
’Til next week!
(comments? allanafenty@yahoo.com)
