Parliament reconvening, thanks to diplomats

May 24, 2026 Editorial, News

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Editorial

(Kaieteur News) – The best that Prime Minister Mark Phillips could say was that he is “unable to say.”  Clerk of Guyana’s National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, followed that same route: “I do not know.” It helped that Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Gail Teixeira broke the silence, shed some light, parliament back on June 5^.

Why did it require the foreign diplomatic contingent to intervene for parliament to restart?  Once again, European Union Ambassador to Guyana, Luca Pierantoni took the lead.  “We look forward to intensive parliamentary engagement that will enable Guyana to advance its ambitious reform agenda. The work of Parliament is essential in fulfilling the democratic principles shared by Guyana, the Caribbean Community and the European Union.” Do PPP Government leaders understand what “intensive parliamentary engagement” means?  It was not happening.  Intensive signifies serious, in-depth discussions, with lively debates, on the government’s “ambitious reform agenda.”  Pushing ahead with that agenda unilaterally from the Office of President or Prime Minister, or from press conferences, cannot happen if parliament is closed.

Guyanese voted in an election, and they are best served when their representatives are seen and heard in parliament.  The issues debated with vigor.  The projects on which their money was spent, and how public servants involved in that spending performed.  The disposition of their oil money through a full accounting for withdrawals from the Natural Resource Fund.  Those are only portions of what parliament should be involved in, but can do only when its doors are open. Its work opens to cameras and microphones. Its speaker managing his sensitive position with fairness. Its opposition members given opportunity to table motions, to raise the difficult questions, and to press for straight answers.  When the work of Guyana’s parliament is an open book, then there is so much more accountability.

Committees must be convened and hold their sessions. June 5 is the start date. An unfettered, functioning Public Accounts Committee informs taxpayers. Firstly, what value they are getting for their billions budgeted and spent.  Secondly, the quality of the audits that they are getting. Thirdly, how much the government is supporting (or undermining) the work of this most sensitive of committees. And, fourthly, how dedicated the committee itself is in the delivery of its job.  A reconvened parliament paves the way for all of this business that involves the people to get started, eventually get completed satisfactorily. But only if the People’s House is opened, so that the “intensive parliamentary engagement” of which Ambassador Pierantoni spoke, could make headway.

An honest government, one that has leaders who are genuinely committed to democracy and its organs and processes, would be about a reconvened parliament. A parliament that bustles with energy and fidelity to the oaths taken to serve, and serve ethically.  We at this paper are appalled that the diplomatic corps had to make its voice heard again regarding reconvening parliament. The ABCEU diplomats gave a strong hand during the September 2025 elections, so that the next step of parliament operating at full steam could follow automatically. They may have been of the impression that their work was done, and that they could get back to the priority of dealing with their own government demands.  But here it was that American, British, Canadian, European, and others had to get involved again. This is embarrassing, to say the least. It makes from government to citizen look like beginners. People who are in need of much encouraging and, like those with challenges, given a gentle reminding nudge.

How long is this going to continue in an independent country, one that claims a firm hold on democracy’s practices? In what other areas will the diplomatic think it necessary to intervene, to save the government from itself, and this country from falling to new lows. Guyana’s parliament had its grand opening, after considerable PPP/C Government hedging, and that was mainly for the budget to be passed.  Considering the well-placed slush funds in that budget under names like contingencies and such, the government’s plan may have been to keep parliament closed as long as it did not need money.  However, diplomats applied pressure again, and again it was about opening parliament.  June 5 is the date, with citizens hoping for better.

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• Editorial

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