President Donald Ramotar and his People’s Progressive Party/Civic Administration (PPP/C) have taken Guyana into a state of near anarchy. The Constitution is clear in defining what constitutes democracy. It requires not only General or elections for a President and members of the National Assembly; it requires local government elections too.
The Constitution states, at Art. 12, that “Local government by freely elected representatives of the people is an integral part of the democratic organization of the State.” Further at Art. 71, it states that “Local Government is a vital aspect of democracy…”
The President’s refusal to assent to the Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) Bill 2014, Bill No. 3 of 2014, ensures that there is now no legal cover for 71 of our local democratic organs, namely the neighbourhood democratic councils and municipalities. The constitutional life of these organs expired on 1st December, 2013 and they now exist in a legal vacuum. Guyana cannot be described as a democratic state while breaching key provisions of its Constitution.
The central government is using the Appointed Element or local government officers within these organs to marginalize the elected councillors while this condition exists. The state of near anarchy is accompanied by a despotic mindset. Former Speaker of the National Assembly Ralph Ramkarran recently opined that Guyana can soon qualify to be known as ‘The Kleptocratic Republic of Guyana.’ If current PPP/C actions continue unchecked, the country can deservedly be called ‘The Despotic Republic of Guyana.’
The PPP/C Administration, even as it denies citizens their democratic rights, is continuously uttering inane statements professing to be concerned about its commitment to seeing local democracy. Selected portions of the address of the Minister of Local Government Minister Norman Whittaker to the National Assembly earlier this year while speaking on the Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) Bill 2014 are relevant. It is easy to determine whether any credibility remains within the PPP/C in so far as local democracy is concerned. Whittaker said, on 10th February, 2014:
“… Almost one year ago, to be precise on 7th February, 2013, as the National Assembly considered Bill No. 8 of 2013 I confidently stood and shared the optimism of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic. I exuded the commitment of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic to have Local Government Elections during the course of that year. I reminded all, like I do today, that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic has always been in the forefront of every form of democratic struggle in our country to ensure that Guyanese of all races, creed and class enjoy universally recognized basic human rights. In fact we do have a long history of championing the cause and rights of Guyanese people including the right to be meaningfully involved in managing and developing the communities in which they live.
I re-emphasise this afternoon that the People`s Progressive Party/Civic has absolutely nothing to gain by not holding Local Government Elections; nothing at all. To the contrary we have been working assiduously to move the process forward. I, personally, have never had any doubt in my mind as to the genuineness and the determination of the people to hold Local Government Elections. We care, Sir, we have always cared.
So it is against this historically proven background that we of the PPP express concern that Local Government Elections could not be held during 2013 as we would have wished. But may I suggest that what has passed by has gone and will forever be out of reach of the will to alter. Let us examine how we move forward from here with a resolve to complete, permission to use the words, this social contract. For indeed, there has been progress, perhaps not as much as we would have desired.
… We have made improvements, tremendous improvement. But even as I say this, I reiterate that the absence of Local Government Elections over the past 16 plus years has not helped our people, more so our young people to understand how important these elections are. So we at the Ministry of Local Gov`t and Regional Development have taken steps to so educate them.
The PPP has never essayed to dominate, but to work with the Opposition to seek to arrive at a consensus on the critical issues that will support local democracy. We are of the strong view that our people would, through local democracy have a greater involvement in the making of decisions with respect to their own development. No informed open minded honest Guyanese can deny the PPP its significant role in working to meet the reformed Local Government System envisaged under Section 72-78 of our Constitution.
… We have come too far not to want to move to the finishing line; there must be no turning back. We have made tremendous strides in strengthening our democracy. This could be further strengthened with strong and effective local governance.” [Hansard, 10th February, 2014].
Here we have the Minister of Local Government in 2014 reminding the public that, in 2013, he stood in the National Assembly and ‘exuded’ the Government’s commitment to hold Local Government elections in 2013. One year later, however, this very Minister would say that a sufficient number of persons are not ready to have these elections. His colleague and PPP’s General Secretary would then say that the ‘mood’ is not right to justify the holding of these elections. The President, to crown this continued unlawful behaviour, takes refuge in a statement of Gecom when the Constitution at Article 111. (1) states that he “shall act in accordance with his own deliberate judgement.”
The public will deliver their verdict to this oppressive and unlawful regime in due course. A Partnership for National Unity’s position, however, is clear and it is that the PPP/C must cease their campaign of disdain, disrespect and disregard for democratic norms and Constitutional provisions.
