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Early elections, shared governance can break parliamentary impasse
– Ralph Ramkarran
Former PPPC stalwart Ralph Ramkarran believes that Guyana’s only solution to the present Parliamentary “tension and gridlock” is through early elections and, if the need arises, shared governance should be considered.
His opinions were reflected in an online published article titled “Repairing Guyana’s broken system of governance” on his website called “The conversation tree.”
Former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran
The former Speaker of the National Assembly, who severed ties with the PPPC last year, admitted that having given thought to the specific challenges faced by Guyana, “I had supported the current system because it allowed the largest party to retain the presidency.”
But Ramkarran noted that he was of the opinion that if a situation such as the current one arose, a coalition government would have been the “natural” outcome. “Clearly I was wrong.”
In his online article, Ramkarran stated that there is nothing inherently undemocratic about a minority government. He even went at lengths to point out that the Prime Minister Harper of Canada led two minority governments.
Nevertheless, Ramkarran said that “minority governments do not last and are not expected to.”
The veteran politician pointed out that Guyana’s minority government appears to expect opposition support for its policies and in Parliament once it offers cooperation.
“But the Opposition has other ideas and the result, not unexpectedly, is heightened tension and gridlock which will continue for the life of the Government. The immediate solution can only be early elections and a coalition government if the same or similar results are obtained, as occurs in almost every other country in the world.”
Broken system of government
Ramkarran said that while Guyana awaits reality of his propositions, “our broken system of government must be repaired.”
The former speaker explained that Guyana has an executive presidency, answerable to neither parliament nor cabinet for executive decisions, is not bound by cabinet decisions, cannot be charged or sued, virtually cannot be impeached, controls the date for elections, can be elected by a minority and dominates the Parliament through the executive if his/her party or list has a majority.
“Where the president’s party does not have a majority and refuses to bring other forces in the government, chaos and gridlock prevail as at the present time.”
He said that in a broad framework, “we need to have a prime minister as head of government from the political party obtaining the largest number of votes, answerable to and bound by both parliament and the cabinet, who is bound by the law as every citizen, who must have not only the support of the majority of the parliament but whose government must comprise on an equitable basis at least two political parties, the other political party having obtained the second largest number of votes.
“Where the position outlined above is unachievable within a specified timeframe after elections because of disagreement, the government may be formed by any one or more political parties which can command the majority support of the parliament.
“This system of government should be accompanied by substantial devolution of authority to regional and local government authorities, a strengthened judiciary and independently appointed and functioning constitutional bodies.”
Since the 2011 elections, at which the People Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) enjoyed benefits of retaining executive government, there has been little progress in the National Assembly.
This situation exists because even though the PPP/C gained the presidency; the joint parliamentary opposition—A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC)—enjoys a majority of voting members in the National Assembly.
This instance marks the first time Guyana has seen a minority Government.
A number of passed Bills still await the President’s assent including a bill passed in the House to repeal the benefits offered to Former Presidents.
At the last sitting, Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall emphatically said that he will advise the president not to assent to a passed Bill that seeks to amend the constitution so as to make a number of agencies, including the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) independent.
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