Dear Editor,
Guyana never backs down from making contentious decisions that can sometimes have rippling effects around the world. When the Burnham administration welcomed Jim Jones to Guyana, the final act of the Jones cult put Guyana in the headline news around the world. Now the bombshell of the Chief Justice (CJ) has re-awakened the world to Guyana again.
The decision of the CJ surprised most people. Of course, the Government welcomed the decision which upheld their view that Parliament cannot change the budget as presented by the Minister. What the CJ failed to recognize is that his decision does not only apply to the budget, but every action of all Westminster parliamentary systems around the world.
If the CJ is correct in his ruling, then by extension he is telling the parliament that no bill presented by a Minister can be amended, but must be voted up or down as presented. Now, now, now, what is the purpose of parliament? It was my belief that politics was “the art of negotiating”, and who else is more qualified to exercise that maxim than a parliament. They are after all the “peoples’ representatives”.
I have heard of the lively debate in our parliament over the years among our illustrious politicians. Does this ruling bring our debate to an end? It seems to me that the CJ is telling the majority that their only role in parliament is to vote for all bills, whether it’s the budget or anything else, on an up or down vote. If this is the case, then there is no more need for debate. A bill will be presented by a Minister, then the Speaker must call for an up or down vote on the bill as presented. What a mockery will this be on any democracy. Even the most hostile dictatorship presents some form of debate in their “sham parliament”.
In the US, the Senate recently amended its own internal procedure “the nuclear option”. Does the CJ find this rule unconstitutional? What about the rules and procedures of the courts over which he presides? Are these rules and procedures unconstitutional?
I am confident that the appeals court will overturn this ruling by the CJ. If this ruling stands, the opposition of any parliamentary system will be relegated to “insignificance”. Democracy will come to an end as we know it.
Yours faithfully,
Charles Sugrim
