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Speaker Trotman saved Guyana from a political crisis
Nov 24, 2012 Letters
DEAR EDITOR,
Here we go again! Additional proof that once again evil lurks in Guyana and this has driven fear into the hearts and minds of those who believe in the democratic process.
As conscious nationalists we recognize that under the constitution, Guyana has three independent branches of government – Executive (Presidency) Legislative (Parliament) and the Judiciary. But attempts by the minority Jagdeo/Ramotar regime to control the other two branches are clearly putting democracy and the political process at risk.
Ignoring the no-confidence motion passed against Minister Rohee in July is a case in point. The stubborn cabal had dug in their heels and drawn a line in the sand with the Rohee issue.
Frustrated by the rancour in Parliament, Speaker Raphael Trotman has called on all MPs, especially those in the minority, to be matured and let commonsense prevail. Implicitly, the speaker is telling the minority PPP MPs that they should abide by the majority decision if democracy is to triumph and the constitution be respected. Aside from the budget, after almost a year, the 10th Parliament has not passed a single piece of legislation that would improve the welfare of the poor and the working class. The PPP’s primary focus is that Rohee not be barred from speaking in Parliament, which could result in a political crisis.
Which brand of insanity can cause them to believe that they can neglect the human capital for generations; process hundreds of thousands of our children through a substandard educational system; provide poor medical service to the masses; spend billions of taxpayers’ dollars to build shoddy projects like the Marriott Hotel; deliver no justice for most of the wrongs committed against the poor, and allow corruption and crime to continue unabated, while they make Rohee their main focus?
What is wrong with this dictatorial regime? If the PPP’s plan was to use the “no-confidence” motion against Rohee to place the country in a political crisis and then blame the opposition, it surely backfired. Speaker Trotman not only pre-empted such a move, but his ruling that Rohee cannot speak in Parliament until determined by the Privileges Committee dumbfounded the PPP, especially PM Sam Hinds and Anil Nandlall, who thinks he is a constitutional expert.
Speaker Trotman’s remarkable performance in Parliament on Thursday, November 22 , may just have saved the nation from a political crisis. Trotman has shown that he has got what it takes to silence some of the bombastic and acerbic PPP members of Parliament, who continue to behave as if they are the majority.
We praise Speaker Trotman for his courageous act of gagging Minister Rohee until the Privileges Committee speaks some time next year, if it will ever do so. However, it is now clear that it will take awhile before Rohee is given the opportunity to speak in Parliament.
We hope that Mr. Ramotar would heed the Speaker’s ruling and consequently remove the Minister of Home Affairs.
Dr. Asquith Rose and Harish S. Singh
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