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Govt. stages late night walkout… Motion passed to establish National Commemoration Commission
MPs from the government walking out on Friday evening.
Government staged a walkout from the National Assembly Friday evening after the Opposition refused to defer a motion for the establishment of a National Heritage Commission.
Earlier, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) agreed to an 11th hour proposal by Government to change the name to the National Commemoration Commission.
It was shortly after 22:00hrs that Government after requests to defer the debate pending more inter-party talks, walked out. By then too, Speaker Raphael Trotman, had left as he had another engagement.
The motion for the Commission, according to APNU Leader, Brigadier (ret’d) David Granger, was spurred by several instances of discriminations and unilateral decisions by Government on critical cultural issues.
These include the renaming of the Timehri International Airport to Cheddi Jagan International Airport in 1997 despite protests by especially the Amerindians.
In arguing for the motion to be given full support, Brig Granger said that there seems to be lack of a cultural policy. Even a request for the holding of a separate holiday for the indigenous people in September was denied.
He said that the Commission would allow for a more inclusionary approach that would see commitments for national unity.
He warned that attempting to resolve cultural and other identity issues by a majority decision could have costly consequences.
He listed the recent controversy to place a monument next to the seawall instead of somewhere else as an example.
He said that based on a letter sent by the Ministry of Culture on Friday, APNU had accepted that Government remains the ultimate policy maker but that the commission will make recommendations to improve culture in Guyana.
With separate holidays for Indians, Africans, Muslim, Christians and Hindus, there has been a clamoring for Amerindians to have more recognition too. Already, the Amerindians have their own month of celebrations.
Gail Teixeira, Chief Whip for the government benches, urged for a deferral and meetings to discuss more on the matter. She admitted that culture in Guyana needs to blossom, pointing out that government has been doing its part in ensuring its development.
The Amerindian Act, Environmental Protection Agency, Kaieteur Parks Act, and housing legislations are part of the parcel designed to ensure the development of culture.
APNU’s Amna Ally in arguing for the Commission, said the issue of cultural development is a national one and that government had enough time to make its inputs. However, it was not until Friday morning that they signaled intentions to have the matter deferred pending talks.
APNU’s Sydney Allicock, noted that Amerindians have serious concerns over problems with lands and the Commission would be the forum to deal with the issue.
Cathy Hughes, of the AFC, in supporting the motion, too insisted that the all important issue of culture should not be left to a few to decide but all Guyanese should have a say. She regretted that government had chosen to walk out.
Among other things, Granger’s motion asked for a resolution that will see the commemoration of event and the establishment of memorials which will not only celebrate cultural and racial diversity, but would eliminate discrimination.
The motion was carried in the absence of the government Members of Parliament.
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