The constitution and the courts did not protect citizens from this violation

Feb 27, 2020 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

“Sovereignty belongs to the people, who exercise it through their representatives and the democratic organs established by and under this Constitution” declares Article 9 of the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana; and Article 50 establishes that the “supreme organs of democratic power in Guyana” are the Parliament (consisting of the President and National Assembly), the President and Cabinet. Of these bodies, only the President is elected directly by the people (art. 91). Every person entitled to cast their vote in these elections understands clearly that their vote will elect David Granger, Irfaan Ali or one of the other Presidential Candidates representing the nine contesting political parties, as well as determine the size of their support in the National Assembly, and does not determine the election of individual Members of Parliament. Members of the National Assembly are elected indirectly on the basis of popular support for the Presidential Candidate and the Party List he/she represents and are extracted to satisfy the Party’s complement of seats allocated to it following the election and can be recalled, removed or replaced if the Party that elevated him/her loses confidence in the ability of that member to faithfully represent its interests.
My mind and purpose has been clear ever since the No-Confidence Vote (NCV) of December, 2018, with inimical purpose and contempt for certain sections of the population, set out to dismantle citizens’ right to elect the President of their choosing, and their trust that Members of Parliament would honour and pursue their, and their Party’s, interests above personal and ulterior considerations. If Charandass Persaud felt that he could no longer respect the choices of those who entrusted him with their vote he should have resigned from the National Assembly, and if he wishes to demonstrate his support for the PPP/C he should present himself at the polling station and cast his vote for that party; he is entitled to exercise his franchise but not to pervert and abuse the choices of others he may disagree with.
The constitution and the courts did not protect citizens from this violation and abuse of their democratic rights and now supporters of APNU+AFC, and the progress it represents under the leadership of President David Granger, must reclaim the power of their vote and their dignity by delivering an overwhelming Charandass-proof majority to the coalition on March 2, 2020.

Sincerely,
Oscar Dolphin

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