Disrespect will not be tolerated in new Parliament

May 25, 2015 News

“Decorum, a sense of pride, dignity and integrity must be returned”- President David Granger

By: Kiana Wilburg
Politics may be a dirty game. But in the ring—the National Assembly— President David Granger wants a clean fight.
The National Assembly is where issues of national importance are deliberated on, investigated where necessary, and decisions taken. There, those who are responsible for enforcing those decisions are held accountable.
In the Tenth Parliament, the then Speaker of the House, Raphael Trotman complained bitterly about the unsavoury remarks like “thief” and “prostitute” uttered by the country’s leaders.

President, David Granger

The President told Kaieteur News during a special sit-down- interview at the Ministry of the Presidency yesterday that he has had it with this disrespect that has characterized the exchanges between Parliamentarians. He said that “decorum, a sense of pride, dignity and integrity must be returned.”
To ensure that there is a change under his first term in office; Granger plans to enforce his Code of Service for Members of the National Assembly. Should it not be adhered to, he will reserve the right to impose sanctions available to him.
Granger said that the need for ethical behaviour among the Members of Parliamentarian (MPs) is absolutely necessary as respect for the National Assembly should be displayed at all times.
The President said that he is not going to put the Code into a form of an agreement to be signed on to by MPs. He believes that the current state it is in is enough for the time being.
He said they will be held accountable to the Code of Service and should there be a repeat of cases which occurred in the Tenth Parliament, “they will be held accountable.”
In its current state, the President said that it is in essence, moral suasion but, “at the level of Ministers, if they do not confirm to the norms of ministerial service and they commit crimes they will be exposed to criminal prosecution.”
“If it is a misdemeanor …then there are sanctions available to the Head of State.”

Former Education Minister, Priya Manickchand when she was being reprimanded in the Tenth Parliament for her behaviour

A Code of Service ensures that Parliamentarians discharge their obligations to their constituents in a manner that promotes the function of the Assembly, the democratic process and the honour attached to their post.
But many contend that unless the feet of the Parliamentarians are held to the fire when they step out of line, then any code would appear to be mere window-dressing and fuel the perception in some quarters that the Assembly is incapable of regulation.
With the Code of Service, MPs would be bound to the Code in all aspects of their public life and are expected to act on all occasions in accordance with the public trust placed in them.
According to the Code which Granger stressed will be implemented, Parliamentarians are expected to observe certain values. These are accountability, transparency, dignity, diligence, duty, honour, integrity, objectivity, responsibility and loyalty.
It continues, “Members’ conduct should be based on the public interest and they should avoid conflict between personal interest and the public interest. The acceptance by a Member of a bribe to influence his or her conduct as a member, including any fee, compensation or reward in connection with the promotion of, or opposition to, any Bill, Motion or other matter submitted, or intended to be submitted to the National Assembly or to any Committee, is unlawful…”

Guyana’s National Assembly

“Members shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner which will tend to maintain and strengthen the public’s trust and confidence in the integrity of the National Assembly. They should never undertake any action which would bring the National Assembly or its members, generally, into disrepute.”
The Tenth Parliament has seen several dramatic and “disreputable” episodes between the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC). Some cases even tested the faith of Trotman.
One such case was that of former Education Minister, Priya Manickchand and recently sworn in Junior Minister of Finance, Jaipaul Sharma.
During the 2014 budget debates, APNU’s then Shadow Minister of Human Services, Volda Lawrence spoke to the need for more to be done to assist victims of sexual assault and statutory rape.
Manickchand blurted out, “Ask your member Sharma, ask your APNU Member Sharma!” The former Minister was alluding to a court matter involving Sharma’s father.
The House Speaker had found this disparaging remark to be unbecoming of any Parliamentarian and threatened that he would not recognize her during the budget debate speeches if she did not apologize.
Manickchand only apologized to the House but refused to do so to Sharma. Though she received pardon on the matter, the incident affected Sharma so much that he resigned as a Parliamentarian.
Even when he was the Leader of the Opposition, Granger pointed out that such behaviour sends a bad message to the nation’s children.
There were other cases of blatant disrespect for the National Assembly such as legal challenges taken by the former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall against decisions taken by the National Assembly. This was seen as nothing more than deliberate attempts to undermine the power of the House.
Then there were instances where the Former Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh disrespected and violated the instructions of the House in spending taxpayers monies. Dr. Singh spent about $4.5B without parliamentary approval, which the court later ruled to be a most unconstitutional move. The Executive Member of the PPP has been accused over the years of displaying disrespect for the norms of the Parliament and even escaping without punishment.
Trotman, who was recently appointed Minister of Governance, has spoken on several occasions on the disrespect shown to the National Assembly. He said that the lack of compromise and dialogue was the greatest failure of the Tenth Parliament. He had said that at the end of the day, the image the citizens get is one of disagreement, discord and fighting.
The politician said that repairing the image of the Parliament requires a collective effort by both government and opposition.
“Citizens need to see their leaders in discussion and working out their disagreements, and it doesn’t appear that we are capable of solving our problems. The ability to solve our problems is essentially what sets us apart from being ordinary.”
Trotman said that the current manner in which MPs “go at each other in the Assembly really captures the level of disrespect and disdain that members and their parties have for each other at a national level and it is a frightening prospect because no nation so divided can be successful.”