Dear Editor,
I can empathise with my colleague Mr Rafiq Khan who wrote so emphatically about the abolition of the ceremonial opening of the Criminal Assizes (‘The ceremonial opening of the Criminal Assizes… should be abolished’ SN, June 3). Those of us working in and around the Law Courts and Parliament are no doubt severely put out and upset whenever there is the ceremonial opening or the National Assembly is sitting. In terms of the latter I have written and even raised this matter with the Police Commissioner because I am firmly of the view that the traffic arrangements for parliamentary sittings are unnecessary and burdensome on thousands and in fact manage to aggravate citizens further when they realise that we are locked away not getting too much done on their behalf.
On the other hand, I am urging Rafiq, Vish and all others like them, justifiably frustrated and enraged, not to push for us to dispense with ceremonies which are already dying in Guyana but to perhaps re-arrange times and places even if it means doing the ceremony earlier and in the forecourt of the High Court building. In the legal profession we have seen the falling away of tradition, custom and practice in the failure to hold Full Court sittings for fallen brethren, and the appointment of Senior Counsel. Both Vidyanand Persaud and Rafiq Khan I believe are eminently qualified to ‘take silk’ and be called to the ‘inner bar’ as Senior Counsel along with a number of others, but no one seems to care. I believe that the majesty of the profession and the symbolism of having the opening of the sessions should be preserved at all costs, and that everything should be done to save these traditions. The parading of troops and colours if done correctly, instils a sense of national pride and commitment in a society.
We are living in the most “inglorious period” of our history according to Sister Mary Noel Menezes, as among many other disappointments, we have witnessed National Awards and Investiture Ceremonies ending. There are too many national customs and traditions already cast aside for us to want to lose another so ingloriously.
Yours faithfully,
Raphael Trotman
