This week we asked the man/woman in the street if they have been following the sittings of the National Assembly and what they expected the sittings will accomplish for them.
Interviews and photos by Mandy Thompson and Javon Vickerie
Tyrone Talbot, retired solder from the US Army – ‘I am following the sittings but I have had the misfortune of seeing the National Assembly of Guyana break out into a free for all and disrespectful behaviour. I don’t expect them to accomplish anything that affects me because they are so caught up in their own respective egos that they have failed to realize what it is that is affecting Guyanese people. To watch Mr Neil Kumar practically accuse Moses Nagamootoo over the molesting of children at the Agricola unrest is not why we send them into that building. They have no respect for the speaker of the assembly and he basically has no voice which tells me they are not going to address the issues no time soon. With watching the behaviour in there on Monday it tells me that the status quo is gonna stay into effect and even become endemic. If they are really concerned about what is affecting our people they will listen.’
Fitz Ralph, pensioner- ‘In between I have been following the recent sittings. I would hope that parliament would accomplish what the people’s agenda dictates. But what we have seen is our parliamentarians are engaged in a lot of ego fighting. We are losing sight of what the PPP/C considers the most important item on their agenda. The 2011 elections have cost the PPP/C and they have not been able to adjust in any positive or sensible manner for that reality. They have purposed themselves to regain power at all cost and so whatever they do and whenever they do it, it is that single perspective that drives them. When they go into parliament and seem to make Agricola the most important item on the agenda, that has nothing to do for the love of Agricolans and for the love of the poor suffering people but to ride the agenda of the PPP/C.’
Jocelyn Morian, Kwakwani resident- ‘I have been following the sittings through the newspaper. I had expe5cted local government elections to be on the forefront because from the Kwakwani end a majority of residents are hoping we could have local government elections so we are in a better position to manage the affairs of our community. Because of the whole political situation in the country I don’t think they have reached that goal. In communities like mine where the government did not win support they are trying to force their people in to make it look like without them nothing can happen. They are deliberately stifling communities like ours.’
Stan Gouveia, human rights activist- ‘Yes I have been following the sittings. What a parliament should be is basically updating and enacting legislation for the betterment of the people, that is what a parliament should do for any nation. With the present structure and setting of our political system I would have to say nothing I would expect them to do because it’s designed that nothing can be accomplished. We have heard about all the rumblings about having a one seat majority. There are many motions that were tabled by the opposition, none of which was acted on. Ironically the minority government still has their bills accepted. Unless there is constitutional reform this is going to continue happening like the last time.’
Troy Kellman, businessman- ‘In and out I have been following the sittings. Accomplishing for me is a non issue because I don’t want them to accomplish anything for me. I have programmed my life in such a way that I depend on the father and my energies. I have divorced myself from partisan politics. I have recognized long now that parliament works in a system and the opposition mirrors the ruling party. They adjourned so long for recess and came back Monday and they hardly do anything. Is a set of negativeness that went on in the parliament. I don’t have much faith in the parliament. Them ain’t making sense and they spending a lot of money so them is a waste a time.’
Sheon Parris, vendor – ‘I don’t think they are doing anything for the market vendors and is like they don’t have no respect for us. I don’t know what they have in store for us cause they moving us all around. They invest in taxpayers’ money and build a mall at the back there which ain’t mek no sense. U deh out here and yu don’t even sell a dollar much less at the back there. Customers won’t leave here wah busy and go at the back there to buy and get rob. Instead a passing dah 3 million for Bharrat they could a invest the money and mek a park for these taxis wah bothering we and leave us here.’
Mary Burrowes, vendor- ‘I think Rohee must go because all … that they doing and they still want we fuh accept the killing at Linden and Agricola and them ain’t doing nothing about de thieving all the time.
Earl Tellman, vendor- ‘Yes I have been following the sittings but is bare quarrelling going on there. It’s actually a year now since this government get in power and so far is arguments all the time and nothing ain’t doing. There is nothing we can know they will be doing for us. They just arguing with themselves and not doing anything for the people.’
Alex Whyte, mechanic- ‘Yes I have been following the sittings. I expect parliament to tek way them house lots them renting and selling for 25 and 30 million and give a poor man like me. Me apply for house lot since 2001 an me go back and apply in 2005 again and me can’t get wan house lot. I have seen people get house lot who apply after me. The government helping who they want to help them is nah government for everybody. The opposition gaining one seat majority cause them to use it and do thing them ain’t suppose to do.’
Harriram Ramdeo, overseas-based Guyanese- ‘Me come back fuh live and me can’t live cause them people a think you get money. The police them a tek money so them should a give them more money and let them do good job cause them a de man who gah control this place. Security is the thing I want them to do for me. I want open a business but me get rob and me nah get back me stuff. Them police nah investigate properly. Everywhere me go me gah pay money them corrupt so me biggest concern is security.’