Bold changes and reforms needed

Sep 14, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,

I write in response to the article in SN entitled, “Ming plans national conversation on Guyana’s future”. First of all I must compliment Stanley on this bold and timely initiative.

It is time all of our young people come on board to bring an end to two generations of the divisive politics of the past that is forcing them to seek refuge in foreign lands.

Guyana is a very beautiful country and with the right leadership hope can be restored and we can stop the hemorrhage of our greatest asset – our human capital.

We need trusted leadership to curb the rapid decay of the moral fabric of our society.

We need to arrest the growing corruption, narco-trade, cronyism, nepotism and executive lawlessness that have infiltrated our daily lives before they become an irreversible part of our culture.

It is time for the kind of leadership that represents the true diversity of our great country. We need to bring an end to the system that makes one segment of our population feels alienated and subservient to the other when the other is in office. In order for us to move forward as a nation everyone needs to put their shoulders to the wheel.

I am convinced that even if we employ all the skills we have remaining in Guyana the task ahead will still be a challenging one.

So this old system of exclusion must be buried if we are to unshackle ourselves from the past and leapfrog our nation into a bright future.

As a starter here are a few constitutional changes I would like to see:

* We need to get rid of the office of an Executive President. No one should be above the law nor be vested with such powers. We need a ‘Ceremonial President’ who can act as a ‘referee’ whenever necessary and to help avert any potential constitutional crisis.

* The Prime Minister should be the Head-of-State and be present in parliament to face the music for all his decisions. The fact that our President finds time to meddle in every little thing and the day-to-day business of almost all agencies is testimony to the fact that he has nothing else constructive to do. We have a very small country to run and there is not need for the current lavish and elaborate system which is financed by taxpayers and for which they do not get value for their money.

* We need to revert to the First Past the Post System where our lawmakers are elected directly by the people in their respective constituencies to whom they are answerable and accountable. The recall legislation was a backward step that only stifles debate and muzzles our lawmakers. Only the people who are responsible for electing a parliamentarian should have that power to replace him or her through a by-election should that become necessary.

* We need to have devolution of power. We need to take away power from the central government and return it to the people at the local level where it belongs. The regions need to have more autonomy to make investment and other decisions that will create jobs and help to improve the lot of their people. The regions should be able to negotiate with local and foreign investors and grant necessary tax holidays and concessions to promote economic growth. Also this way a party in opposition who may win control of a particular region can put all its talent to work to help move our country forward.

* As a matter of urgency we need an independent Elections Commission free from any political interference. This body should be politically neutral.

I trust that the work of any exploratory committee will be the beginning of greater things to come and that Guyanese will one day have a rendezvous with harmony and prosperity.

And make no mistake, Guyana will only move forward when we are unified as a people and see ourselves as Guyanese first.

Artie Ricknauth

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