Where are the ideas of the luminaries on Constitutional Reform?

Sep 28, 2017 Letters

---

Dear Editor,
The APNU and the AFC had bemoaned their helplessness to stop the PPP/C Government from doing what it had so desired to the detriment of the masses while in opposition. Hence, they saw Constitutional Reform as a requisite for controlling the abuse of power by future governments. Constitutional Reform was high on the Coalition’s Manifesto on their campaign and why not-there was NIS monies invested in the Berbice Bridge to offer a sweetheart deal to a few private investors and Marriot built with state funds in an act of vengeance to create competition for the owner of a business perceived to be an arch-enemy of the PPP/C-just to name a few.
After 23 years in office, the misuse of power and complacency had met the precipice of intolerance-hence victory for the coalition. As early as July 2015, PM Nagamootoo started talks on Constitutional Reform with UNDP representatives and got assurance of help. By September, he initiated a Steering Committee on Constitutional Reform” headed by Nigel Hughes and a report was submitted back to PM in April 2016.
That report remained a secret. At the symposium held by the Carter Center, late in May 2017, the center highlighted the need for reform to allow for individual candidates to run for presidency. The Center reaffirms that as it is now-the constitution rules in Guyana limit all candidature for the office of the presidency and for the members of the national assembly to those who join party lists. Carter Center said that an amendment is urgently needed to allow individual candidates to participate in elections; this will place an incentive for voters to vote across party and communal lines.
The Center cited that presently, there is no legislation related to the regulation and operation of political parties. In a nut shell, Carter Center touched at the heart of what is required in Constitutional Reform in Guyana. This is the gospel that the luminaries in society should be preaching to the people because the Carter Center acknowledges that the desire for Constitutional Reform has to be driven by the citizens.
I see people writing of ‘Backward Guyana and what it does to poor people’ and ‘Socialism is a superior system to capitalism’ and ‘A new party is coming on stream’. The luminaries seem to lack the vision to identify that constitutional impropriety is the root cause of our social and economic problems. I see little or nothing emanating from their pen on Constitutional Reform. As a result, food for thought on the subject remains at a minimal among the populace. In the absence of ideas from the luminaries, the masses will become moribund-where will the DRIVING FORCE for Constitutional Reform come from?
At the launch of the EITI in February 2017, Nagamootoo said that, “Those who think that Constitutional Reform is a slogan, or that it could be easily achieved, our history has shown that it is a fight, it is a struggle.” I wish if he could have elaborated on whom and by whom that ‘fight’ and ‘struggle’ had ensued. Clearly, Nagamootoo and the Coalition’s former obsession  with Constitutional Reform are dying, despite $80M being budgeted for same.
It is not by any stroke of brilliance that Anil Nandalall had accused Nagamootoo of trying to railroad Constitutional Reform by virtue of Nagamootoo presenting a ‘Constitutional Reform Consultative Bill’ to parliament. A few days ago while addressing the gathering on the theme, ‘Constitutional Reform-to court brave change or to leave well enough alone’ Anil while expressing his lack of desire for CR as not being synonymous with the PPP, is fully aware that his sentiment is shared by the entire leadership of his party.
Anil is aware of the liberties, the present constitution gives to politicians in power, having been there. Nagamootoo having arrived there, now feels compelled to filibuster by advocating a ‘Constitutional Reform Consultative Bill’ having previously given the UNDP the assurance that he was interested in Constitutional Reform. The reality check is that none of the politicians wants Constitutional Reform.
While the coalition is enjoying the ride, the PPP/C is basking in the sun, identifying and exposing the flaws of the Coalition and laughing at the cries of the Coalition’s supporters-some of them are uttering that even while the PPP/C enriched themselves at the expense of the people, ‘things were better’. They (the PPP/C) fancy their chances of getting back in power with the same constitution in 2020. Anil Nandalall finished his speech by asserting that ‘The need for constitutional compliance trumps the need for constitutional reforms’. Ludicrous! Where is the safeguard mechanism in the constitution to ensure compliance by the executive?
Rudolph Singh

---

---