Dear Editor,
With the PPP moving into election mode following the trimming of the 2012 National Budget in parliament by the majority opposition, it is imperative that the APNU and AFC immediately pass electoral reforms aimed at restoring democracy to Guyana. And for those political leaders who fail to see the writing on the wall, just ask the ordinary man in the street what they think of President Ramotar’s address to the nation on April 27; Dr Leslie Ramsammy’s letter, ‘Is this what AFC supporters voted for?’ (SN, April 30); Mr Ganga Persaud’s pitch to Amerindians in Region 9 on May 1; and Mr Ralph Ramkarran’s renewed interest in the PPP nomination. They will tell you that the PPP has begun to galvanise its base and is going all out to win back those supporters who caused it to lose the parliament in the Nov 2011 elections. A snap election will be called.
Should the opposition fail to implement electoral reforms Guyana will be doomed to dictatorship no matter which party wins the snap elections, because our electoral system was designed to foster and maintain dictatorial politics. The list system, in which the List Representative selects members of parliament, and the Jagdeo/Corbin recall legislation that empower the List Representative to remove MPs at his/her pleasure are nothing but legalized dictatorship, and are a huge disincentive to the PPP and the PNC to become democratic parties. Undemocratic parties transpose their political culture to government.
The list system and the recall legislation must be scrapped and replaced with the first past the post system, in which politicians must contest seats in specific constituencies; they should not be removed from parliament by their parties, only in a by-election, and they should be free to vote as their conscience guides them and not at the dictates of their parties. Members of parliament will vote in their constituents’ interest and not that of the party boss. This system will empower the Guyanese people and not the political parties.
Due to our continued ethnic suspicions and divisions that in turn have led to ethnic voting patterns, and given our paucity of human capital, the constitution must be reformed to include all parties in the executive branch of government. The party with the largest bloc in parliament gets to appoint a Prime Minister and Cabinet, the second party gets to appoint a non-executive President, and the third party appoints the Finance Minister as well as the Home Affairs Minister. Neither the Prime Minister, President, nor cabinet appointees can be members of parliament but they are all accountable to parliament. The second and third parties get to elect the opposition leader.
Such a new constitution, electoral system, and government will dampen the desire of political parties to control the Guyana Elections Commission and that in turn will allow Gecom to blossom into an impartial and professional institution. The new electoral system will stop Gecom taking one week to recount the votes at its head office. Results will be declared in each constituency a few hours after the close of poll as is done in India, Jamaica, Trinidad, and Barbados.
Yours faithfully,
Malcolm Harripaul
