Ramkarran should be re-elected as Speaker

Dec 11, 2011 Letters

Dear Editor,
It is heartening to read your front page headline news that four individuals (one each from the PPP and APNU and two from the AFC) are interested in being the Speaker of the New Parliament which will be constituted very soon.
The person who will be selected Speaker should be able to command the respect of the entire Assembly and not have involved in any controversies. The Speaker must be able to gain the trust of M.Ps of both sides and make judgements based on precedence and the law.
He or she must have the competence to rule motions and submissions in order or out of order. He must not show favour or be biased. He must be able to lead others in addition to performing ceremonial duties and chairing meetings of the House and Committees as well as overseeing the Parliament. He or She must ensure the rules of the House, called Standing Orders, are being observed correctly and objectively.
Historically, a Speaker is usually chosen from the recommendation of the governing party or coalition. However, in the new parliament the governing party is a minority in the legislative chamber and it will require a majority of the 65 members to elect the Speaker.
The combined opposition has one seat more than the ruling party but the PPP has the largest bloc of votes in the Assembly. So selecting the Speaker will be a major challenge. Being Speaker in Guyana has not been an easy job. It is a tough position not for the faint hearted..
The incumbent Mr. Ralph Ramkarran, who has served some 8 years as Speaker, although a PPP nominee, has proven to be independent and presided over the chamber fairly.
Everyone, from all sides, held him and still hold him in confidence and spoke with him freely about their views. There had not been any complaint against him by the Opposition parties. Ironically, it was the governing PPP that complained against Ramkarran believing that he had been too liberal with the opposition parties allowing them to have their say much to the chagrin of PPP M.Ps.
I think Ramkarran should be retained if for no other reason because he will not be controversial and will not rock the boat.
Moses Nagamootoo will also make an excellent Speaker but given his defection from the PPP, which cost the ruling party a majority in parliament, there may be bad blood between and among former colleagues.
I think Moses will be fair in line with his political reputation as a writer, M.P, Minister and lawyer. He has been in parliament for decades and is well respected among the Opposition and the governing benches.
The other two prospects, Raphael Trottman and Deborah Backer do not have the debating parliamentary experience of Ramkarran and Nagamootoo.
Trottman and Backer have not been tested as much as the two old heroes who served the country so well for decades and to whom the M.Ps will put greater trust.
Vishnu Bisram

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Ramkarran should be re-elected as Speaker

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