Conversation Tree

The implementation of the process of consultation required of the President under Guyana’s Constitution has been one of the most controversial constitutional issues since Independence.

A large number of observers of varying views believe that the single most important obstacle to progress in Guyana over the past fifty years and before has been the expression of ethnic division in organized political form and the failure to find a resolution to this dilemma by way of a constitutional or any other form of modus vivendi.

The major concern for most Guyanese for the New Year is likely to be their economic wellbeing and the progress being made towards improvement of conditions for them and their families.

The Christmas season, referred to as the season of goodwill, will see Guyanese of all religious persuasions seizing the opportunity of participating in all that the season has to offer.

(Kamal Ramkarran is the author of the original and longer version of this 2009 article, which has been abridged and amended by me with his permission).

It was disclosed during last week (‘Bar Association writes Registrar of Court, Commissioner of Police on touting’ SN, December 2) that the Guyana Bar Association had written to the Registrar of the Supreme Court and the Commissioner of Police seeking action against the use of touts to procure legal business for lawyers.

The announcement by government that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Fedders Lloyd, a reputable Indian company, relating to the Specialty Hospital project, has attracted several negative comments.

Two of Guyana’s cultural and artistic giants were born on November 22 and 23 respectively.

The recent three-day general strike in the sugar industry, called by the Guyana Agricultural and General Workers Union (GAWU), protesting the delay by the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) in initiating wage talks, signals a return to militancy of Guyana’s largest and most influential trade union.

In his recent interview on Venezuela, former president Mr Bharrat Jagdeo spoke about his administration’s approach to resolving the border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela.

Diwali is celebrated by Hindus to signify the victories of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance and hope over despair.

As revealed by President Granger in his address to the National Assembly last Thursday, Venezuela has once again attempted to intimidate a foreign investor, the Guyana Goldfields.

Neither pace nor spin could contain the eruption over the salary increases by ministers of the government, to themselves.

During last week Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams, reminded us that the current Chief Justice (ag) Ian Chang is due to retire shortly.

“I am not unhappy with the US position,” said Vice President and Foreign Minister Carl Greenidge, speaking about the US position on the Guyana-Venezuela border controversy (iNews July 14).

It was President George H W Bush’s February 1990 Republic Day message to President Desmond Hoyte, expressing the hope that the upcoming elections will be free and fair, that signalled the end of the West’s four decade hostility to the PPP, starting in 1953.

Since the public invitation by Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo to the PPP for talks leading to a government of national unity, varying opinions have been expressed by several commentators on the issue, including Henry Jeffrey (SN September 16), Tacuma Ogunseye (KN, September 19) and Anil Nandlall (SN, September 19).

The APNU+AFC coalition has taken an important initiative towards transforming Guyana’s culture of ethno-political dominance.

The meeting between President Granger and Opposition Leader Jagdeo yielded only a minor concession from the latter.

Mr Anil Nandlall, former attorney general and PPP/C Member of the Parliament, and now the guardian of our rights under the constitution, pronounced ominously on the dire consequences that would befall the nation if the Prime Minister sets foot in the Parliament Chamber, after he is sworn in to perform the duties of the President.