AMEND THE RULES OF PARLIAMENT

Sep 14, 2015 Editorial

In Guyana like most other countries, Parliament is an essential part of the checks and balance system of governance as outlined in the Constitution.
Basically, the role of Parliament is to make laws, keep the government in check and hold debates for its members to discuss government policies, current issues and the problems facing the country. It is responsible for preparing and passing legislations, approving budget estimates, and representing the interest of the people. Parliament is supposed to be the place where civility and fairness exist.
This however, was not evident in the2015 budget debate which has provided an opportunity for the government to defend its fiscal policies and for the Opposition to assess and oppose what it deemed inappropriate or excessive. But regrettably, hecklings, insults and distortions of the truth smothered the discussion on the budget. It seems as though the people’s interest has been cast aside and this has led President Granger to remind MPs of their responsibility to uphold and respect Parliamentary decorum.
In fact, Parliamentary rules and laws should be amended to prevent the institution from becoming the ritual chamber for abuse and ugly feuding among its members which have gone on for decades.
Parliamentary decorum must be upheld and respected at all times by all MPs. Hurling insults at one another and making false and inaccurate statements should be minimized. For example, the PPP had on several occasions accused the APNU+AFC government of ethnic cleansing when in fact thousands of Afro-Guyanese civil/public servants were dismissed by the PPP administration in 1992 and thereafter.
And lest we forget, it was the PPP Cabinet Secretary who admitted that prior to 2013, there were no Afro-Guyanese Ambassadors or High Commissioners because they were not qualified for those positions.
Almost everyone is frustrated with the indecent exchanges by MPs who are supposed to respect one another and the honourable house. Instead of discussing issues that affect the lives of the people, they have been constantly involved in partisan political bickering to score cheap political points that serve their own interest.
This has led to a simmering of resentment by the people whose interests are ignored. This type of uncivility, by and large, has not served the people well in the past and would not meet the challenges, internal and external, that the nation faces now and in the future. MPs from both sides of the isle should know that by deriding each other, they are in fact hurting their own image. Mature minds are needed in Parliament to find ways to develop the economy, create jobs, reduce crime, encourage investment and move Guyana forward.
The problem is not confined to the opposition political party. The governing party has to be blamed as well. There are some who think that partisan politics is the root cause of the problem. But political parties with strong visionary leaders should, by and large, focus on the interest of the people and not indulge in partisan politics.
They should not allow ridicule and personal insults to dominate the debates in Parliament. Furthermore, those who indulge in impolite political discourse in Parliament should be disciplined by the Speaker. Indulging in ill-mannered discussions are ominous signs of the decay of the social fabric in the country.
For example, almost every public institution in Guyana is in a crisis of some kind: poor education, health care and social systems, a deteriorating agriculture sector and an abysmal national security and judiciary have eroded public trust and confidence among the people, especially the youths who have become cynical of the establishment and politicians.
The Granger/Nagamootoo government is obliged to make changes to the rules and laws governing the House in order to make it more cordial, receptive and respectable. Reforms are urgently needed to restore the dignity of the institution and to change the behaviour of MPs.
It is not a wise political strategy for the Opposition to oppose all government policies for the sake of opposing. Parliament should provide the fiscal and regulatory framework for good governance and all MPs should adhere to Parliamentary decorum. Amending the rules of Parliament is urgently needed to reflect its good and noble image. This is something the APNU+AFC government should ponder!

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