A Summit, a Council and a charter…GNCPP’s Constitutional course

Jun 29, 2014 News

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By Zena Henry
Much ado about Article 13 in Guyana’s Constitution has been evident recently. Perhaps it’s because it provides that:

“The principal objective of the political system of the State is to establish an inclusionary democracy by providing increasing opportunities for the participation of the citizens and their organizations in the management and decision-making processes of the State, with particular emphasis on those areas of decision-making that directly affect their well-being.”
The emergent Guyanese Civil Society groupings are embracing this provision as their Constitutional guarantee of status and empowerment, with some justification. Particularly, the increasingly vocal civil group, the Guyana National Council on Policy (GNCPP) has also recognized that other similar Constitutional assurances exist under citizens “Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual”, among others.
The head of the organization, international corporate lawyer, Dr. Philip H. Mozart Thomas has noted that, “the issue for citizens in today’s Guyana is whether “the political system”, as manifested by and through the government, does indeed hold Article 13 and its declaration as any “principal objective.”
Other relevant questions, he added, surround the concept of “inclusionary democracy” whereby the State is to provide “increasing opportunities” for the Guyanese people, in between elections, to participate in “the management and decision-making processes” which have to do with the nation’s policies and even the distribution of its resources.
Dr. Thomas pointed out that in the recent past a Government Minister expressed indignation over the fact that the European Union Delegation in Georgetown donated assistance directly to a representative Amerindian Rights group. In another section of the print media, he pointed out a commentary by an anonymous contributor which sought to analyse the “agenda” of the Americans in supporting the country’s Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).
Dr. Thomas believes however, that “it must be readily understood that any embattled Administration would feel the need to be suspicious of certain activist organisations; and would be wary of popular effective structured Non-Government groups and would be quick to label certain visible vocal CSOs as ‘political’”.
That’s balance for the political course for any government/political system under constant scrutiny, criticism and opposition, Dr. Thomas explained. He continued that it is not “the Americans” who solely support Civil Society’s strategies for empowerment and inclusiveness in Guyana. “And why should the Country’s Civil Society not be strong enough to challenge wrongdoing?” he questioned.
Dr. Thomas was unequivocal in stating that, “every NGO or CSO is not about regime-change.” He said that it is evident in our nature that Guyana’s NGOs and CSOs, in particular GNCPP, is about making sure that all stakeholders of the generation put all their efforts and energy into creating a better living environment and quality of life for all Guyanese.
“As one CSO member recently declared: ‘We are not anti-government. We are anti-wrong,’” Thomas said.
THE GNCPP – AND A CIVIL SOCIETY SUMMIT
Dr. Thomas asserted that it would be reasonable to expect cynicism and sighs of indifference when older Guyanese hear talk of a resurgent, burgeoning “Civil Society”.
“They’ve experienced ineffectiveness, exclusionary boorishness and, too frequently, NGOs compromised and co-opted by political interests.”
This time around, Dr. Thomas urged, “newer CSOs influenced and inspired by better ones before and supported by Diaspora affiliates or branches, are intent on making a difference as they invoke Article 13’s promise and protection.”
Dr. Thomas, a Corentyne, Berbice native, is bent on invigorating and mobilising Guyana’s NGOs/CSOs. His organisation has assembled a number of Guyanese achievers, both at home and abroad, to spearhead its Think Tank/ National Policy Institute and to expand its membership to provide capacity to man its various departments which mirror governmental entities.
Currently, the GNCPP is dedicated to convening Guyana’s first National Civil Society Summit – GNCSS; “a September Conference to elect a Civil Society National Council aimed at establishing a collective voice and programme for an empowered Civil Society Sector.”
GNCPP’s Advocacy, Administrative and Social Services Departments have now established a Summit Event Planning Secretariat housed in its new GNCPP headquarters in Kingston, Georgetown. The Secretariat has begun issuing both briefs and invitations to local NGOs/CSOs with respect to the September Summit.
The GNCPP, according to Dr. Thomas, completed a comprehensive feasibility study between May 2003 through to March 2010, which later saw the development of a plan to effectively implement values, creating a shift into a new dispensation of governance and management of a Society. In this regard, he said, it is necessary to establish the Guyana National Civil Society Council (GNCSC).
The GNCPP leader said that among several objectives set out, the summit seeks to bring together representatives from over 400 Guyanese national and Inter-national Civil Society Organisations and Non-Government Organisations and Groups. It seeks to select a GNCSC; develop and implement the policies and principles that will guide Civil Society Actions in their new role of occupying, functioning and executing their Article 13, et al, Constitutional duties, obligations and responsibilities.
The summit also seeks to develop and execute a National Civil Education Campaign on the Constitution and elections processes in relation to the role of civil society; to discuss adjudicate specific proceedings before the High Court. The summit plans to develop a process to enable discourse and dialogue with the political system on reform processes and behaviour culture, while advocating for an independent judiciary.
GNCPP’s secretariat is located at 58 High Street Kingston, Georgetown.

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