Latest update April 2nd, 2025 8:00 AM

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

Latest News

The tyranny of the minority

Nov 16, 2014 Letters

Dear Editor,
Guyana is now experiencing the tyranny of the minority. The action by President Donald Ramotar to prorogue Parliament should cause former US President Jimmy Carter, who is a ‘Born Again Christian’, to revisit Guyana one last time.
His mission should be to perform the ‘last rites’ for the demise of parliamentary democracy which he is credited to have helped restore to Guyana in 1992. For him, the ‘euthanizing’ of our Parliament by Ramotar, to ‘preserve’ his political life, has got to be more than just ‘sobering’. Rather, it has got to be ‘soul-searching’ because it has brought all his hard work to zero.
The misuse of this Constitutional provision is so extraordinary, that our collective reaction as a sovereign people can only be correspondingly, extraordinary.
For the PPPC, this period of prorogation is in effect – a ‘shallow grave’ in which they have buried or entombed parliamentary democracy.
For the combined opposition therefore, this period has got to be used for the ‘Resurrection of Democracy’. Talk of ‘restoration of democracy’ does not apply now. That was pre-1992, when our fledgling democracy was alive and well despite its spots and blemishes.
The PPP government has now dealt a mortal blow to the raison d’etre for their own existence. The Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Brig. David Granger, is right in declaring that there can be no engagement by the combined opposition with the regime during this period.
The Combined opposition must seize the moment, because the stars are aligned perfectly in their favor. It is called ‘providence’!
Not luck and chance. Reacting to ‘providence’ requires deliberate action and keeping up of momentum, so that, on ‘resurrection morn,’ when Parliament eventually resumes, Guyana will be fundamentally transformed.
This is the time for a ‘Guyana Magna Carta’. Every great nation has had moments that fundamentally transformed their societies. In the 13th Century, the British had the first Magna Carta (The Great Charter) which protected British subjects against royal abuses of power and upon which English Common Law is based. England will be celebrating the octocentenary (800th Anniversary) of the original Magna Carta, in 2015.
The Magna Carta protected and promoted people’s liberties as ‘inviolate’, and placed the first significant limit on an English monarch’s powers.
In the 18th Century, the United States had their own ‘Magna Carta,’with ‘the Bill of rights’ in which all the civil liberties of the American people and self-evident truths, are enshrined.
In pursuit of our own ‘Magna Carta’, we do not need any foreign mediator. I respect the Speaker’s call for Commonwealth support but President Carter’s intervention in 1992 has now culminated in prorogation.
In 1998, the involvement of the three wise men – Sir Alister Mc Intyre (Jamaica), Sir Shridath Ramphal (Guyana/Barbados) and Sir Henry Ford (Barbados) resulted in the Herdmanston Accord which was largely ignored by the PPP Government.
This time it has to be a total Guyanese effort which involves voting at a general election. “We the People,” must unite to reshape our democratic landscape and preserve our democracy.
The President must be subject to the law of the land and not above it. All Guyanese at home and abroad must ‘Light a candle, sing a Sankey and help resurrect Democracy’.
Standhope Williams

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| March, 31st, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

 

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Szeplaki wins LGC/ STP Investments Inc. Golf tournament

Szeplaki wins LGC/ STP Investments Inc. Golf tournament

Apr 02, 2025

Kaieteur Sports- Golfer Joseph Szeplaki was crowned winner of the Lusignan Golf Club (LGC)/ STP Investments Inc. Tournament held on Saturday March 30, 2025 at their East Coast Demerara (ECD)-based...
Read More
GBA Youth, Junior & Under-16 Boxing Tournament set for Saturday at ‘Six Head’ Lewis Gym in Albouystown

GBA Youth, Junior & Under-16 Boxing...

Apr 02, 2025

GBA recognises donation of Badminton gear to QC Academy

GBA recognises donation of Badminton gear to QC...

Apr 02, 2025

Exciting restart of the East Bank Football Association Boys’ U14 League

Exciting restart of the East Bank Football...

Apr 02, 2025

“Easily one of the worst decisions ever made!”- Bravo blasts decision to remove Powell from West Indies T20I Captaincy

“Easily one of the worst decisions ever...

Apr 02, 2025

Harpy Eagles faces toughest challenge yet, as battle versus star-studded Hurricanes bowls off today

Harpy Eagles faces toughest challenge yet, as...

Apr 02, 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 […]