Our Constitution needs to be reformed to end authoritarianism

Aug 05, 2021 Letters

Dear Editor,

We have long been warned by political theoreticians that power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. It does not matter which party or ruler is in office in our country. Power once taken is not easily surrendered except for Cheddi and Janet Jagan. In Guyana, we have an all-powerful party ruler wreaking havoc over party supporters and when in government over the entire nation. The party leader, once in government, is not willing to cede or share power or treat citizenry with respect. Out of power, he demands to share power with the new leader who replaced him.

The tyranny of the leader (general secretary or whatever other title he has) is really the danger most to be feared, and will continue to be so for many years. For years, the nation has suffered various forms of abuses, injustices, corruption, cruelties, victimisation from an all-powerful leader (not necessarily the President) of a party when it was or is in government. The leader has no regard for the constitution of the country or the party and the rights of the citizenry. The outcome of democratic elections makes no difference on how the leader treats citizenry as we have experienced since 1999. We have lingered since 2001 in a strange type of governance where ego trumps justice, competence, and common sensical rule. A party leader thinks he knows everything and does not solicit or accept advice from experts of any field especially when he is charge of the government. The opinion of the people is usually not considered on any issue and the party leader does not care to engage or consult supporters or the nation. We are the unwitting victims of a corrupt system. Those who speak out against corruption and abuse of power and who stand up for the rule of law and call for transparency are victimised in government are in the minority.

The imperial leader is empowered to engage in these authoritarian tendencies by a terrible constitution, racial conflict, corrupt politicians, and a disinterested populace preoccupied with meeting basic needs rather than focusing on good, transparent governance.

This COVID-19 pandemic and floods have provided the party leader a perfect opportunity to execute his authoritarian tendencies in government. The pandemic and floods have provided this government with the perfect excuse to manipulate the economy to benefit friends, families, and cronies, giving out freebies and contracts enriching themselves while running up huge debts.

Unadulterated power in our government is now a menace to freedom. It does not matter which political party is in government. Both abuse powers and both are dangerous with these powers. The fact that any party leader is empowered to act like a dictator is dangerous. Where we find ourselves now is in the unenviable position of needing to rein in the powers of the leader who have exceeded his authority and grown drunk on power two decades ago. We must combat government excess and abuse and curb incompetence. We let it persist for too long, some 20 years. The country is long overdue for a check on the leader’s overreaches. We must wrest back control over a runaway government and an imperial party leader.

How can this be done? It won’t be easy. We must object and resist the abuse of power of party leaders and any government. We must demand to be consulted on policies. We must demand constitutional change to weaken the powers of the President. Demand it! We must reform the constitution to shift powers to civilian bodies. We must demand intra-party democracy. Let the party members, rather than delegates, choose the leader and the party executive in transparent democratic elections. We can’t insist on free and fair elections to choose the country’s leader but oppose the same for the party.

Yours truly,

C. Seepersad

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Our Constitution needs to be reformed to end authoritarianism

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