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PPP ‘proposes nothing, opposes everything’-Govt. MP
Within the National Assembly, it is the expectation of the citizenry that matters of state will be discussed and debated by the elected representatives with diplomacy and a sense of political finesse.
Government MP, Jermaine Figueira
Such deliberations are to produce decisions on matters which have the best interest of the Guyanese people in mind.
However, sentiments expressed by APNU-AFC Parliamentarian, Jermaine Figueira, during an interview with Kaieteur News, indicate that this level of governance is still to be desired on the side of the Opposition.
Figueira said that the Opposition exemplifies a quote made popular by political commentator, James E. Tierney, who said that “The duty of the opposition is to propose nothing, oppose everything.”
He continued, “The opposition is supposed to be the voice of the voiceless, but our opposition likes to hear its own voice.”
The Parliamentarian agrees that a country’s Opposition “is supposed to represent and protect the society from the excesses and corruption that sometimes affect governments”. However, he does not believe the PPP can perform these functions ideally.
He stated, “When you (the Opposition) had government, you left a paper trail…and the forensic audits amply address precedence and the claims of good governance under the former regime.”
Figueira even commented on instances whereby the democratic work of the National Assembly was impaired under the former administration. He mentioned as an example, the instance when the late APNU Parliamentarian Deborah Backer had brought a motion on the Untitled Lands in African Villages – asking for a Land Commission to be set up.
He recalled that it was on that occasion that the former Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dr. Frank Anthony amended all the resolve clauses, rendering the content useless.
The Parliamentarian further expounded on other encumbrances to democracy under the previous administration. Another such example he cited was the short sittings of the Assembly during 2006 to 2010 where there were 31 sittings of the House lasting no longer than three hours and a repeat in 2011 to 2014 where there were 16 sittings still not exceeding three hours.
As recent as last Wednesday, Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo at a PPP press conference had accused the present administration of derailing parliamentary democracy. The former President intimated that the APNU-AFC government coupled with the Speaker of the House, Dr. Barton Scotland, had in a few instances sought to suspend the Standing Orders only to violate every parliamentary norm to have their way.
He accused the Speaker of the House of following the lead of President David Granger by disallowing motions centred on pertinent issues, such as the rice industry and the closure of the Wales estate.
While the Opposition Leader holds this view, Figueira made it clear in his interview with this newspaper that based on the track record of the PPP, it has no morale or principled authority to speak or lecture anyone in this regard.
The young APNU Parliamentarian categorized his experience thus far in the National Assembly as “good and interesting.”
He considers the opportunity as an informative one since he can articulate the concerns of the people directly to the various subject Ministers who act accordingly to address those concerns.
Figueira declared that his constituency, Region Ten, has benefited in several regards since the new government took office.
He noted as one benefit, the presence of two Members of Parliament (MPs) hailing from Wismar, Linden. Secondly, he noted the return of local democracy which resulted in the election of a new Mayor and Councillors for Linden and the rehabilitation of many deplorable roads and also a renewed interest in business ventures in the community.
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