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Constitutional Reform will remain a mirage on the distant horizon.
Dear Editor,
Recent disclosures by PM Nagamootoo that the present stalemate on Constitution Reform is not solely the responsibility of the Government but rather a concerted effort of the parliamentary committee on constitutional reform, comprising both members of the government and Opposition, is a candid reflection of how difficult it is for any reform of the Constitution to transpire.
At the head of the Opposition team on the committee is Anil Nandlall. Anil has been openly critical of any reform of the constitution in his missives, “Are foreign interests driving the haste for CR?” and “Political maturity, constitutional compliance more vital than their reforms, “in KN on September 30 and September 23, 2017, respectively.
Given Anil’s public vociferous distaste for CR, the PPP putting Anil Nandlall on the constitutional reform committee is clearly a conflict of interest, contrary to the intent of the committee.
It is a clear signal that the PPP does not want any reform of the Constitution and with the head count given by their supporters on a 34% turn out at the LGE; the PPP will remain adamant on the issue of CR because they fancy their chances of regaining power under the same constitution in 2020.
The Coalition has no interest in CR either. Back in 2017, Nagamootoo was accused of gerrymandering with his so-called “Constitutional Reform Commission Bill” while the UN and the Carter Center were attempting to initiate the process for CR.
It was pointed out that there was already a “parliamentary committee for constitutional reform”; evidence that Nagamootoo was definitely gerrymandering!
Nagamootoo piloted the “Constitutional Reform Commission Bill” in parliament and now he does not know where the “bill is.” Nagamootoo said, “I have never heard any calls, not even from the Opposition, for this committee to meet and without the commission, there can be no constitutional reform.”
The politicians on both sides will continue to play the blame game to fool the public. Neither wants CR! The Coalition is presently enjoying the liberties our present Constitution offers and the PPP craves to have it once more in 2020.
The dramatization continued when Jordan commented, “We have allotted some resources in Budget 2019 to mount a survey and an awareness programme, in partnership with the University of Guyana and others. The survey will seek to assess the current understanding of constitutional reform by the general populace and their expectations, while the awareness programme will aim to stimulate a grassroots participatory approach to the entire process.”
Will this ever happen? I think not.
Last year, the British High Commissioner said, “Constitutional Reform is not just a government issue. It cannot take place without 66 percent of parliamentary vote.”
He added, “But it is not just one group of individuals who should or can be held responsible for the lack of progress.” He means Government and Opposition.
The Commissioner (Greg Quinn) suggested that the lack of progress can be blamed on all Guyanese, who failed to see the importance of CR and do not want to call for it and make their input.
In retrospect, he added, “If enough people say it is important, then it will happen.”
With the diehard supporters of APNU and PPP only believing what their leaders say, Constitutional Reform will remain a mirage on the distant horizon.
The luminaries in society, whom prudence would have expected to lead the charge, seem to be in the wilderness too. The CR debate is dead.
Rudolph Singh
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