What is the ‘People’s Parliament’? In a general sense, it is a grassroots movement aimed at providing a space where the ordinary Guyanese citizen can assemble and share in a conversation about how their lives are being governed.
The conversation was triggered by the crisis in Linden, and over the past few weeks the movement has canvassed ideas from ordinary citizens; people are sharing how they feel about governance, leadership, and the events in Linden, life in the city, and life in Guyana in general. This is what the Parliament represents – well, in theory.
Sunday Stabroek visited the People’s Parliament on two separate occasions to understand what is happening and to report on it. The first visit left us wondering exactly what was going on. It was around 5 pm on Tuesday and the gathering comprised a scattered group of eight individuals, including some obvious drifters who appeared to be enjoying a temporary resting place. Among the drifters were three men who formed a group within the group, and who decided to chat and smoke a ‘joint’ at the same time. At another level, those drifters represent a section of our society whose members have no jobs, who are using drugs to escape the hardships they face, and who appear to be without hope; they are drifters waiting for something to change.
When asked what the gathering was about, some in the group described themselves as a “gathering of concerned individuals from different backgrounds” who have been assembling day and night for over two weeks. The movement, they said, is popularly known as the ‘People’s Parliament’ or ‘Occupy Georgetown.’ Situated opposite Parliament Building on Avenue of the Republic in a public park area, the People’s Parliament is very noticeable. It is hard not to miss the cardboard placards on display with words written in bright colours, the umbrellas and other paraphernalia. Still, to many in the city the People’s Parliament is invisible; most passers-by on Tuesday paid scant attention to the few persons who were braving the hot sun to “make a difference,“ as they put it.
Like the National Assembly, those gathered there are often in disagreement. There are varying views on the direction the Parliament should take and on occasions, there are heated debates. There are some who are accused of being “too soft” while others are called “extremists.” One of the extreme views which was expressed on Tuesday included a suggestion to temporarily hold the Opposition Leader, David Granger hostage inside his office until certain demands were met, and one of the demands included insisting Granger visit the site and share in the conversation. Literally, the proposed strategy could be interpreted as kidnapping Granger, which is a criminal offence and also contradicts the ‘People’s Parliament’ aims as printed on their flyer, although the woman who shared this view saw nothing illegal about it.
The movement is leaderless, but activist Sherlina Nageer has been active and vocal since its initiation. She has been out every day and night since they started, interacting with the press and the public in an attempt to paint an accurate picture of what the movement is about. She was not present on Tuesday at the time of our first visit, but this newspaper spoke with her during a subsequent visit. She admitted that there are varying views among the ‘parliamentarians,’ observing that various personalities are involved and fixed on their own ideas. She believes that they “have started to gel,” although this is an optimistic observation of how things really are. The uniformity of ideas which she spoke of did not appear to exist, although there is a sense that she is working on it.
Nageer has an infectious, revolutionary spirit and when she shares her vision for a better Guyana the listener cannot help but believe in a bit of what she is saying.
But aside from Nageer’s passion and her hope for what the ‘People’s Parliament’ could achieve, the current reality of what is happening points to some confusion at this point in time. On Tuesday, the group which interacted with this newspaper engaged in an ugly public spat before settling down to answer the questions we posed. Between the colourful language being thrown around and the whiffs of smoke coming from the drifters, it was difficult to take any of what they were saying seriously. Was this a group of people fighting for a cause, standing up for something, or was it a group which was seeking temporary shelter and was just happy to join in a conversation?
There were a few persons in the group on Tuesday who seemed interested in having a real conversation about this country, our politics, our leaders; our lives. They talked about the need for the government to deepen citizen involvement in politics, and for government to treat citizens as stakeholders. One man talked about how parliament has to be returned to the people, which is why they were assembling. He was still sharing his views when one of the drifters interrupted to ask about a funeral possession which was passing at the time. “Is now Taylor burying?” she asked shifting the conversation away from the point being made about returning power to the people.
“Look at them going behind a fool who drink poison and kill heself,” a man chimed in, and he then shouted this out to the many motorists who were part of the funeral procession, much to the annoyance of some who were hanging out of the car windows. They responded with colourful adjectives. The ‘Taylor’ they referred to was Joseph Taylor, who was the cricket mascot who had abused his wife and subsequently committed suicide after being charged with the offence.
‘Solidarity with Linden’
“We are in solidarity with, and inspired by the people of Linden,” the ‘People’s Parliament flyer states.
And so one “Lindener” sitting at the ‘People’s Parliament’ proudly declares to anyone who wants to listen that without Linden there would be no such gathering.
“Georgetown people don’t have the guts like Linden people, and is not even Linden people is Wismar people who carry the whole thing,” the woman declared even though it was later revealed that she had left the mining town years ago and lives overseas, and is now back on a visit. But she “beg and get insult” for donation to support the struggle in Linden.
Braving the midday sun on Thursday were those who were convinced there must be a militant approach to force the government to change. They seemed unaffected by passengers and drivers sitting in their air-condition cars acknowledging their presence with only fleeting glances from behind their sunglasses. And those who were walking on the pavement seemed to quicken their step to pass, not spearing even a glance for the few who were braving the heat. A somewhat eccentric old lady did stop and enquire about the ‘Parliament’ but the young among them seemed uninterested.
For some who are debating in the ‘People’s Parliament’ the opposition should not have passed a motion of no confidence against Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee but rather against the government.
“This government cannot be allowed to operate like this and you see all dem agreement they sign, you think the government will honour it? No! They didn’t honour the Herdmanston Accord signed by [former opposition leader] Desmond Hoyte and wha about the Armstrong agreement with the public service?” one seemingly knowledgeable ‘parliamentarian’ said.
And for another the opposition should read the writings of Kaieteur News’ columnist Freddie Kissoon “who always get it right and yesterday [Wednesday] and Monday own he was in order.”
“I know they does call me an extremist but it happening all over the world, we have to force this government to act and if you give them one more year is done, all we done,” another commented.
In the roughly three hours spent at the ‘People’s Parliament’ by this newspaper on Thursday, it was obvious that those who gathered daily are passionate about their ideas and they do have a genuine desire to make a difference.
However, the question is how it would be done and whether they themselves would be in agreement on what direction should be taken to achieve their goals.
Those goals, according to their flyer, include engaging Guyanese of all backgrounds in a collective public dialogue on the situation in Guyana, in order to identify real, substantive, long-term solutions to the numerous problems plaguing the land.
They say they will:
document instances of state inefficiency, corruption, and misuse of power as reported by citizens;
be the place where the voice and concerns of ‘ordinary Guyanese’ can be equally heard;
advocate for the needs and rights of poor people, and all who find themselves marginalized’;
work to bring our national politics in line with our community culture of togetherness; and
serve as a model for the kind of social and organizational structure that uplifts Guyana and Guyanese people, and creates a stronger, healthier, kinder, and more just society.
They state that they believe that people have power, separate from the political parties, and that by working together, outside of party politics, they can make great changes in society.
However, they would find it hard to separate themselves from party politics as the politicians themselves make visits and discuss their ideas with the ‘people’ and some of those participating proudly repeat the beliefs of the parties they support.
“We do not believe that the politicians alone can fix the problems of the day; ordinary people are the true majority and have the potential to positively transform Guyana by coming together in love and unity,” the group said.
According to them they are standing against violence, racism, corruption, and inequality of all kinds, and for peace, social and economic justice, human rights and accountability of the state to the people.
Their stance against violence may have been the reason for not confronting the police who took away their tents twice, even though some felt that they should not “have just stand up and watch.”
But it is not only discourses that take place at the ‘People’s Parliament’ as they have activities such as yoga and exercise in the mornings, skills/knowledge-sharing workshops, a public aid clinic, edutainment, drama workshop and a weekly ‘People’s Parliament’ General Assembly.
On a less upbeat note they may have to find another venue for their public conversations as from all indications the area may soon be fenced in.
“People came and took measurement and it appears as if they will be erecting a fence but we would be here when they are ready to fence,” Nageer said, although she indicated they would have to find another venue since the ‘People’s Parliament’ will be around “indefinitely.”
The question at the beginning about what the People’s Parliament is remains. Nageer refers to it as a grassroots movement which is bringing people together to share in a national conversation, but the conversation keeps changing and going in different directions. There appears to be more than one conversation going on. Maybe this will change with time.
