Rights and the rule of law in the Guyana Constitution are non-negotiable

Sep 07, 2014 Letters

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Dear Editor,
The motion piloted by MP Desmond Trotman and passed in 2013 demanding the removal of the barriers placed around the National Assembly and persons be allowed the right to petition parliament with their placards, is yet to be enforced. This is a right enjoyed during the life of the PNC government by Donald Ramotar, Gail Teixeira, Clement Rohee, Nanda Gopaul, Komal Chand, Neimkumar and yours truly. We petitioned the government by protesting with our placards. We also beat drums and blew shells to gain the attention of the PNC administration on matters affecting the society, without the treatment of second class citizenship because there was no barrier shutting us out. These actions took place in the same areas the PPP today would want others not to use nor have their voices heard from.
Those named persons sit on the government benches and took the decision to deny all the citizens our constitutional right to freedom of assemble and expression (Article 146) in front of a building built by exploiting free labour of Africans who were brought here against their will. This act of denial sends a message that elected officials have taken on the characteristics of the enslavers and colonisers, since the freedoms that the masses are now being denied are the said freedoms our forebears fought the oppressors for. The people today whose rights are being denied are the same people who voted for the MPs to enter the National Assembly to represent and advance their interests, yet they are involved in acts of denying the people.
This missive seeks to bring to the attention of the collective that no longer must persons be allowed to hide behind the façade that the Guyana Constitution is inadequate in addressing fundamental freedoms and rights. This act of erecting barricades around the National Assembly commenced with Bharrat Jagdeo as President, Ralph Ramkarran as Speaker, and Desmond Hoyte had departed.
I knew Cheddi Jagan and Boysie Ramkarran personally. Boysie Ramkarran, Ralph’s father, was a man whom I had the greatest respect for. Had the erection of barriers happened during the lifetime of these two men they would have engineered the removal of those barriers and I cannot understand how Ralph as Speaker tolerated it. I know the father of the current Speaker, Raphael Trotman. Donald Trotman has a track record of influencing change and has distinguished himself as a human rights jurist. Here again, I am surprised that Raphael has not led the rebellion against the barriers.
This issue is about our rights. Representatives in the parliament must not only speak in glib terms that they are advancing the citizens’ interests. Their words must be supported by deeds and this is what they must be judged by. The Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Leader of the Opposition, Parliamentary Leader of the AFC must lead the way in having all opposition parliamentarians stand behind those barriers until they are removed and the motion is respected in its entirety.
The opposition cannot continue sending mixed signals to the society. On one hand taking the decision in the National Assembly that the barriers must be removed, yet at the same time advising the petitioners placed behind the barriers that they ought not to breach the barriers. At least, this is one simple decision that the opposition can realise in its totality.  There can be no excuse or blame on the constitution for failing to act. The people have given the opposition the authority and the opposition must not be allowed to abrogate its duty to the people by failing to realise a simple issue it has total control of.
The implementation of the House approved motion does not require the constitution. What the implementation requires is leadership and the gumption to stand up and be counted as men and women who are prepared to be the agents of change. To have the Police Force transgressing the rights of citizens and defying the decision taken by the lawmakers and the leaders in the National Assembly giving acquiescence to this disrespect, it brings into question whether our politicians are paying heed to the representative form of governance enshrined in our constitution. If, on this issue, the entire opposition refuses to cross the barriers to enter the National Assembly, Clement Rohee, the government, and the police will come to their senses.
This issue is about people’s rights, rights that are enshrined in the constitution and these rights must be respected by every individual and every institution in this society. There can be no excuse for inaction.
Lincoln Lewis

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