Dear Editor,
Chapter II of the Constitution of Guyana deals with the principles and basis of the political and social system. Article 9 states that sovereignty belongs to the people, who exercise it through their representatives and the democratic organs established by or under this constitution.
Parliament is a principal and one of the fundamental pillars that forms the basis of our democratic system of government. Parliament is the democratic organ through and in which the people’s representatives take part in the government. Parliament is the highest decision-making institution in the land.
The people placed control of Parliament in the hands of the opposition. The presidency went to Mr Ramotar because the constitution which the PPP was cussing over the years disallowed post-election coalitions and allowed a minority party to become the executive.
The PPP was the incumbent, they were in office during the last elections. They had the entire governmental machinery at their disposal; they had a tremendous amount of money. It was a party of Dr Jagan loved by the people but in a vote of no confidence its supporters, disgusted with the corruption, lack of vision and ineptitude deserted it and so it was reduced to minority status.
Dr Jagan’s daughter was right. The cabal controlling the PPP betrayed her father’s legacy. It betrayed the working people and the people punished them for it.
The corruption became deeper and endemic. Guyana and the patrimony of the people were being given away to friends. The last straw was when the PPP spent $4.5 billion even though Parliament vetoed such spending in accordance with the decision of the courts. This was a pellucid demonstration of contempt for the voice of the people exercised through Parliament.
The AFC decided enough was enough and tabled a no-confidence motion in Parliament. For the same reasons mentioned APNU felt the same way and there was agreement between the two parties to support such a motion.
The AFC did not rush into this. It sent a ten point request to the President but this was rejected. It then sent a letter informing the government of its intention to table a motion of no confidence against it. President Ramotar said “Bring it on.”
Parliament went into recess and was to reconvene on October 10, but the President who said “Bring it on” refused to have parliament sit. Finally under pressure he was forced to call parliament. However, on the day parliament was to meet the President in a cowardly fashion, utilized a clause in the constitution which allowed him to prorogue Parliament, which act subverted the people’s right to place his presidency and the performance of his government under scrutiny.
I deliberately said ‘allowed,’ for the spirit of the constitution could never concede to any one person a right that would supersede the fundamental rights of the people and destroy a fundamental pillar of our socio-political system that underpins our very political culture.
One understands that under some circumstances it may become necessary for parliament to be prorogued. I am sure the clause was to be utilized in similar circumstances. It could have never been the intention for it to be used to nullify the voice of the people and destroy the basis of our democratic system of government.
The constitution empowers people through parliament. It gives the majority the right to remove non-performing, incompetent and corrupt governments. Parliament is the foundation of our parliamentary democracy. To prevent the parliament from holding a no-confidence vote against his government the President prorogued the parliament; he shut down the voice of the people so that he can preserve his power.
I must add here that another pillar of our democratic system is the free press, and as such we must all stand in solidarity with the Kaieteur News which has come under attack to the extent where the very lives of Glenn Lall and his staff have come under threat.
The President and the PPP now find themselves on the other side of democracy. By shutting down parliament; by destroying the voice of the people; by placing freedom of the press under threat, it has now become a dictatorship and must be opposed by all democratic minded people.
Yours faithfully,
Rajendra Bisessar
