Jagdeo needs to be leashed

Nov 12, 2023 Features / Columnists, Peeping Tom

---

Kaieteur News – At his press conference last Thursday, Vice President Jagdeo, in response to a question posed by a reporter, denied that he has responsibility for the natural resources sector. He said that he has oversight over oil and gas, the environment, and finance.

This is strange. The list of Constitutional appointments and their duties, as published in the Extraordinary Gazette of 11^th September 2020 lists Bharrat Jagdeo as Vice President and a Member of Cabinet. In one of his earlier press conferences he indicated that he does not attend all Cabinet meetings. By what authority he misses the others has not been stated.

The gazette lists him as having specific oversight responsibilities for finance, natural resources, and the environment. While he does not have ministerial responsibilities, he has oversight responsibilities.

It therefore once again begs the question by what authority is he purporting to speak on any and every aspect of the government. Has he co-opted the portfolio of the person who has responsibility for information?

His recent press conference was hosted in his capacity as General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party. But as any reporter who has ever attended one of those press conferences, he waxes lyrically on any and every subject and speaks with the sort of authority as if he knows any and every detail about government.

If, for example, he does not have responsibility for Foreign Affairs or defense, how can he pronounce definitively that the United States government has never approached the government of Guyana on the issue of establishing a military base? It could be that following the claim by the Venezuelan Foreign Minister, the matter was clarified in Cabinet and he was told that this has never been broached. Or is it that he is implicitly indicating that no major decision of that nature can be made without his direct knowledge and consent?

The latitude with which he speaks about government matters indicate that he has more than simply oversight responsibilities for oil and gas, the environment, and finance. It would imply that he possesses far more decision-making and decision-influencing roles than his official responsibilities, as published in the gazette, suggests.

Yesterday, it was reported that based on a commitment given by him, fifteen computers were handed over to the Buxton Practical Instruction Centre. Does this entity not fall under another Ministry and outside of Jagdeo’s oversight? Two days earlier, four printers were handed over to the St. Pius Primary School, reportedly based on a commitment Jagdeo had given?

Last Wednesday, he launched a G$50M Home Improvement Programme for residents of Laing Avenue. Should this initiative not fall under the Ministry of Local Government?

Last week, he held a meeting with residents of Region 3. Did he meet them in his capacity as the person with oversight over natural resources, finance, and the environment? Earlier this month he inspected ongoing works at Sideline Dam, La Penitence. He also met with residents of Alexander Village.  In the latter part of October, he also met residents of a several communities on the East Coast.

It therefore needs to be asked whether Bharrat Jagdeo is usurping the responsibilities of other Ministers. The answer to this question is important given the allegations of micromanagement which bedeviled his tenure as President of Guyana between 1999 and 2011.

But the most disconcerting development happened in June of this year. Jagdeo met with several sports personalities and clubs at the Albion Sports Complex and announced that some $400M would be allocated for the upgrade of these grounds. In so doing, Jagdeo was stealing the thunder of the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport who should have been allowed to make this announcement. The Minister was in attendance but it is clear that Jagdeo was stealing the limelight.

No one person should be allowed to alight on so many portfolios. The concern over the Vice President’s extensive involvement in multiple portfolios raises questions about the distribution of responsibilities within the Irfaan Ali government.

No person should be allowed to be involved in an overwhelming number of portfolios. The risk of over-extension becomes apparent when the Vice President becomes more active than the President, who is traditionally viewed as the Head of State and government. This situation may create a potential imbalance that could hinder the President’s ability to effectively lead the nation. A Vice President with involvement in an excessive number of portfolios could even overshadow the President, diminishing the clarity of leadership roles in the government.

Another danger is that the concentration of authority in the hands of a few persons, risks slothful decision making. This may explain why, to date, major diplomatic appointments remain unfinalized, the promised appointment of a Minister of Local Government had not materialized and the Democracy Award is languishing in limbo

The President needs to limit his Vice President. This would prevent the Vice President from being spread too thin. It would also avoid perception of the Vice President as the nation’s “chief cook and bottle washer.”

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this newspaper and its affiliates.)

---

• Conference, finance, natural resources, Peeping Tom, press, Vice President Jagdeo

---