Latest update April 7th, 2025 6:08 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

Maxwell is wrong about my opposition to Presidential powers

Mar 05, 2013 Letters

Dear Editor,
I normally enjoy reading M. Maxwell’s commentaries because I feel he is among a few who actually write objectively and accurately.
His latest letter criticizing me on the Presidency is wrong. Maxwell contends that myself and Mr. Ramkarran only now oppose the powers of the Presidency because the PPP will lose the next elections.
There is nothing further from the truth. I can’t speak for Mr. Ramkarran, but he did pen that he thought the constitution would allow for some kind of power sharing (coalition government) if no party wins a majority.
He admitted he was wrong. In my case, I have always been opposed to the Burnham constitution and described it as a farce.
Firstly, there is no evidence that the PPP will lose the next election and with it the Presidency and my recent poll does not show that the PPP will lose.
It is way ahead of the other two (parties) represented in parliament. In fact, the polls show the PNC (APNU) and AFC have lost support because of their antics since November 28, 2011.
Secondly, I have consistently opposed the Burnham constitution since it was foisted on the nation.
I protested against the fraudulent referendum in front of the Guyana Consulate (43rd Street and Second Ave) in Manhattan on that July day. Since then to now, I have penned dozens of articles condemning the Burnham constitution, describing it as illegal and calling for the restoration of the legitimate 1966 independence constitution.
I interviewed Dr. Jagan several times for New York newspapers and he assured me that once democracy was restored he would abrogate the Burnham constitution.
Unfortunately, after he won the October 1992 elections, he failed to execute his promise. When I interviewed him again after he became President, in response to the question on the Burnham constitution, he said he could not throw away the baby with the bath water. He assured me he would not abuse powers and that he harboured no intentions to be a dictator.
It is true that Dr. Jagan did not exemplify characteristics of authoritarianism, but the nation has an authoritarian constitution and Jagan should not have taken chances with it. The constitution should have been nullified and powers devolved to the population.
Failure of constitutional reform and the return to the Privy Council were two of my major disappointments with President Jagan. I should also note that when Jagan was in opposition, he told me in interviews and at international conferences where we both were in attendance, that powers belong to the people.
He assured me that should free and fair elections return to Guyana and were he to win, the local bodies would be entrusted with more powers to control their own destinations. Dr. Jagan’s PPP failed to implement this important promise. Mr. Ramkarran supports devolution of powers to the local bodies and the people.
I roasted Dr. Jagan and the PPP in the media on constitutional matters, the Privy Council and devolution of powers, and I have remained very critical of the PPP on these issues.
So Maxwell is wrong about my opposition to Presidential powers. The question I have is where Maxwell was since 1980 when I and others were and have been opposing the Burnham constitution.
Vishnu Bisram

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| April, 4th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

 

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

President’s College upstage Santa Rosa to advance into Quarters

President’s College upstage Santa Rosa to advance into Quarters

Apr 07, 2025

-PC, West Ruimveldt and Three Mile added to the cast Kaieteur News- Action returned to the Ministry of Education (MoE) ground in Georgetown as the Milo/Massy Under-18 Football Championship determined...
Read More
CWI withdraws penalty on John Campbell following Tribunal Review

CWI withdraws penalty on John Campbell following...

Apr 07, 2025

‘One Guyana’ 3×3 Quest Basketball opens with local teams in mixed results

‘One Guyana’ 3×3 Quest Basketball opens...

Apr 06, 2025

GCA, East Coast surge to huge wins 

GCA, East Coast surge to huge wins 

Apr 06, 2025

GFF/Concacaf kick off two-day Match Commissioners Workshop to boost football operations in Guyana

GFF/Concacaf kick off two-day Match Commissioners...

Apr 06, 2025

Chase’s Academic outclass Bartica to move closer to 2025 title

Chase’s Academic outclass Bartica to move...

Apr 06, 2025

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]