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Dr Van-West Charles boosts Parliamentary archives
Dr Richard Van-West Charles (left) hands over the digital records to the Speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran
The Parliamentary archives were significantly boosted yesterday when Former Parliamentarian, Dr Richard Van-West Charles, presented to Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran, records from the House during a dark period in Guyana’s History namely 1962 and November 1959.
Ramkarran described the records as a precious gift especially since in were from the year 1962 which he called an eventful period in Guyana’s history, “and our politics took a lot of forms and shapes which still impact on us.”
“It is important because of what it is…it is an important addition to the information that we have available for MPS and the public at large… It will enable us to review what transpired in the highest body of this land, the National Assembly.”
Ramkarran recalled that while he was at the Commonwealth Speaker’s Conference recently in India, the issue of the use of technology was one of the priority topics discussed and as such he was pleased that the records which Dr Van West-Charles handed over was on disc format.
He told media operatives that the Parliament’s website (www.parliament.gov.gy) is currently being upgraded and soon the information will be available online.
Dr Van West Charles, prior to the simple handing over, which was done in the MP lounge in the presence of Parliament staff, said that the CDs as general knowledge are of utmost importance and a society as young as going must be a learning society, as such, access to information must be critical and available to all, “we must share knowledge if we are going to learn.”
As such, Dr Charles said that he was pleased to hear the announcement by the Speaker as it relates to the website.
The former PNC Member of Parliament said that it is important for parliamentarians to be able to reflect on what other parliamentarians have done in the past with respect to debates, with respect to what has gone on in the life of the Parliament.
He said that it is equally important for the young citizens of Guyana to have access to the information so that they could have a sense of how their leaders have taken on various issues.
Dr Van West Charles impressed on all and sundry that the critical pillar of democracy, is access to information. He explained that he acquired the documents from a colleague of his, Jeffrey Thomas who, when he realised what they were, decided to make digital copies.
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