Time for a New Guyana

Jul 03, 2018 Letters

Dear Editor,
I am advocating for a new constitution and would like to see a healthy debate on what should be in a constitution that will solve the problems of race in this country.
If we become patriots and put country first then there should be no place for these race based parties.
I feel we need to get folks interested in debating the idea that the reasons why we suffer from bad governance is because the constitution facilitates and protects the politicians in power; and every day they pass or amend laws in ways to further empower and protect themselves.
The current ruling of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) puts our constitution in the spotlight. I think it is the opportune time to focus on it some more.
The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) upheld the constitutionality of Guyana’s presidential term limit. That ruling is now Law, and I respect the decision of the learned judges as based on the arguments presented and the historical constitutional environment that currently exists.
I am, however, of the personal opinion that the Constitutional Amendment on Presidential Term Limit that was passed by all “elected” members of the National Assembly did not represent the will of the people.
In fact, in my personal opinion again, all of the amendments or laws voted on by the majority of the “elected” members of the National Assembly do not represent the will of the people.
In fact, the entire Governance Structure of Guyana that derives from the Constitution of Guyana does not represent the will of the people.
No Citizen of Guyana who voted can point to any single “elected” member of the National Assembly and say that I voted for him and he represents the interests of my community and me. Each of the “elected” members of the National Assembly has been “Selected” by a group of persons in charge of a political organization based on the needs of the political organization and not the interests or will of the people. And if that “Selected” person does not bend to the will of the Political Organization, he is immediately removed and replaced by another “Selected” compliant person.
When these “Selected” persons vote for any laws or amendment to laws, they do so in the best interests of the Political Organization that “Selected” them. The interests of the people or the will of the people are secondary.
I would extend that further to say that the interests of the nation became secondary to the political organization. The simplest definition of Party Paramountcy is that Party is above Country. We have all seen this play out with the two political groups that have governed this country.
For over 50 years, we have heard repeatedly that Guyana has a lot of resources; a lot of potential. However, over that same period these political groups under this Governance Structure have moved the country from the bread basket of the region to the basket case of the region.
When these groups are out of Government, they promise all they right things. However, once they get in, it’s a different story. They fall into the same trap as their predecessor. And this happens, because the constitution facilitates and protects them. This Constitution has to go.
There is a crying need to put the interests of Guyana first. Let Guyanese be responsible for their own destiny. Guyanese in every corner of the country must be allowed to select and vote for their own representatives in the national assembly. These representatives must be responsible to make laws that will put Guyana first.
Guyanese or their elected representatives must be allowed to select and vote for those who will be in charge of governance over them at all levels. I do not believe the current constitution can be reformed to achieve this.
We need a new constitution where all power must reside in the people of Guyana.
Let us have a National Discourse and in the process have the people of Guyana define the constitution that will meet their needs and accommodate their dreams.
Sase

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