It’s the Attorney/Politician Nigel Hughes I mean. And the Constitution in question here is the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana (1980, with Amendments to 12th August 2003) which governs the national, even personal, lives of Mr Nigel and all citizens of the forty-three-year old Republic.
Today’s offering is to add my voice and belief in support of the Attorney’s sentiments in his short but pointed letter to this ‘paper’s edition of Saturday, March 02 wherein he hoped that concerned Guyanese would now “be willing to urge their political representatives to talk about urgent constitutional reform before another election”.
Up front, let me share my view that Frankly Speaking, the “ordinary” Guyanese, care little about that most all-important document, the constitution. I always opined that the daily struggle to survive in this Guyana economy too often precludes the masses from contemplating many issues which impact upon that very existence and survival.
But Mr Hughes is significantly correct. The recent and current goings–on in the country’s National Assembly, wherein the government side is proving to be successfully adept at out-manoeuvring the “majority” Opposition, by way of both litigation and arrogance and contempt, have thrown the spotlight on the Constitution as never before.
Encounters with the
constitution
Indeed, I was a guilty Guyanese, in terms of ignorance of and indifference to our Constitution; what was in it and how, as “the Supreme Law”, it impacted upon our personal and collective lives.
As a young teacher, I turned its pages. From 1980 I became more interested when Mr Burnham fashioned the post-Republic version. Cheddi Jagan’s Opposition was vociferous then about many provisions and clauses, including those about Presidential powers. How things have changed!
Twenty-three years later, under the then six-year PPP/C Administration, I wondered what the altered document would really produce. Does it matter? It should. Indeed, I have learned friends who are hinting that the 2003 amendments are not even legal! I then was immensely privileged to have had to read almost every word ever uttered by Dr Cheddi Jagan in the assembly in its various incarnations. Simultaneously, I was again positioned to interview every senior parliamentary officer, before a failed/still-born public education project.
These encounters stimulated my interest in both the Assembly’s Standing Orders and the Constitution. (The South African post-apartheid Constitution, dubbed “The birth certificate of the (new) Nation” and frequent American Supreme Court Cases involving the USA’s Constitution also can motivate interest in Constitutions.) I now suggest Guyana Constitutional studies in our secondary schools.
The GNCPP … And Nigel
I am associated with a relatively-new Non-Government Organisation (NGO) which is poised to become Guyana’s premier think tank with very prominent legal and “constitutional” minds from Guyana and elsewhere.
From joining the GNCPP – the Guyana National Council on Public Policy – on Day One, its Founder, Dr Philip Mozart Thomas, Guyanese International Corporate Lawyer, Legal and Constitutional “activist” and Litigant, “obliged me” to study various aspects of our Amended Constitution. Revealing!
I now see persons like Attorney/Politician Nigel Hughes reflecting the call for review and reformation of the Constitution with views strikingly similar to the GNCPP’s, embedded in its own Mission and Blueprint for very many months now.
Yes people, it’s time to heed the call of Nigel Hughes. Civil Society must lead in pointing out the current flaws. (GNCPP will begin in a few days time.) Ironically, the very Constitution still empowers Civil Society to show the politicians how! Yes, let’s “unmask” the Constitution with C.A. Nigel Hughes.
Then correct the inadequacies. Referendum or no Referendum!
For females of our world
Today is being observed as International Women’s Day in most countries. The United Nations Organisation has so designated. The Wikipedia reference advises that ”… the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women, to a celebration for women’s economic, political and social achievements”.
The focus varies in specific regions of the world. I’m not about to repeat all the views you’ll read elsewhere today. I won’t even lament the miserable failure of our weak safety nets for our society’s vulnerable females. In towns and villages. it is known that our women bear the brunt of our working-class poverty.
Instead, I salute Professor Verene Shepherd’s Thursday lecture , “United In Anger, United In War: Gender and Anti-Slavery In Caribbean History”. I attended reluctantly, but left informed and exhilarated. Have you ever heard of Susana, a fierce anti-slavery rebel woman-slave who goaded the 1823 East Coast rebels on? Well you’ll be hearing and reading more from me as I explore the Professor’s Presentation from time to time. A reflective Women’s Day to all.
Parbattie and Pan?
Malcolm “Lord Canary” Corrica and I shared a hotel room during the Carifesta in Port-of-Spain seven or eight years ago.
As we were leaving for the Sunday closing ceremony, I froze at what I witnessed on the hotel’s television screen.
I showed the Mighty Canary. In a Mandir two female teenaged Indo-Trinidadian worshippers were playing a double-tenor (first) Pan along with the other musicians playing dolak, harmonium etc. We were pleasantly surprised.
Complete nationalistic acculturisation! The Trini Spirit! “Oneness” manifested in Music! Oh for such acceptance amongst our diverse socio-cultural groups here. I’m dreaming? Or would our Savitri and Parbattie take to Pan and all of what that would mean?
To reveal, to ponder…
*1) Crowd Control. Riot Control. Police well-trained to use varying levels of force as the situation warrants. In many parts of the world, lethal force is last resort! South African police seem to use lethal force up front. What about China and the USSR?
*2) Who heads our Constitutional Court?
*3) Condolences on the passing of President Hugo Chavez. The Bolivian Republic of Venezuela is now at a crossroad. It is to be hoped that we remain good neighbours!
*4) Mashramani 2013 ends today! At the Umana Yana!
‘Til next week – Allanafenty@yahoo.com
