Dear Editor,
In response to the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s weak statement that the Commonwealth Secretary-General said there has been no discussion about the situation in Guyana (‘No discussion by Commonwealth about situation in Guyana -Rodrigues-Birkett,’ SN, January 15), I think the ministry either missed the essence of the High Commissioner’s remarks or is deliberately attempting to deflect from Guyana’s abysmal failure to adhere to the Commonwealth Charter.
British High Commissioner to Guyana, Mr Andrew Ayre, merely warned that Guyana risks being suspended from the Commonwealth organization for being in breach of the organization’s Charter for suspending Guyana’s Parliament.
In fact, he reportedly said, “There is discussion about countries of concern in the Commonwealth every few months… Guyana is moving into a category of concern for the Commonwealth. That is quite clear from discussions that take place in London. These things matter. The UK and other governments don’t sign the Commonwealth Charter…and then just put them to bed. Without a parliament there is no parliamentary oversight of development assistance or anything else. Clearly the appetite to send money to a country that has no parliamentary oversight is much reduced. Guyana could be subject to a critical review because of breaches of the Commonwealth Charter.”
The Commonwealth Charter, to which the High Commissioner referred, is one to which Guyana is a signatory. At the 59th Common-wealth Parliamentary Conference in South Africa in September 2013, attended by leading parliamentarians, South African President, Mr Jacob Zuma, reportedly “reiterated the need for parliamentarians to promote the deepening and strengthening of democracy and that the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association has an important role to play in the promotion of democracy, good governance, human rights and the rule of law.”
“Another role we see for Parliaments and Legislatures around the world is…you play an oversight role and are able to scrutinize the work done by the executive in your respective countries….” He also noted that the Charter contains “a number of values and principles that the CPA holds dear and promotes as part of its mission, including democracy, the separation of powers, good governance and gender equality. It is important that Parliamentarians adhere to the values and principles enshrined in this document.”
According to a September 2013 article captioned, ‘Charter is “way forward” for Commonwealth Members,’ on the South African Parliament website, delegates at the conference were requested to summarize their discussion and reach consensus on ideas discussed, and the first recommendation to be released dealt with the Commonwealth Charter:
“CPA Members must integrate the provisions of the Charter in their work. Parliaments should popularise, monitor and exercise oversight on the Executive (of each respective Parliament in the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association), for compliance.”
Since Guyana is a signatory to that Charter, how is it not in breach of the Charter, as per the observations of the British High Commissioner, given that Parliament has been suspended since November 10, 2014, has not sat since July 10, 2014, and no date for a resumption of sitting or date for general elections has been announced?
The Foreign Affairs Ministry has to get over its exalted ignorance and understand that it is not even about whether the Commonwealth Secretary General knows of any discussions by or among Commonwealth member states about Guyana’s parliamentary impasse, but about the PPP regime’s blatant refusal to comply with the Commonwealth Charter that recognizes the vital role of Parliament in a representative democracy.
One of the speakers at the 59th CPC was Deputy Speaker of the South African National Assembly, Ms NomaIndiya Mfeketo, who said, “The Commonwealth Charter must be used by parliamentarians as a tool for oversight to hold governments to account.” She described the Commonwealth Charter as an important instrument and a cornerstone of good governance. “It addresses and stresses the importance of democracy, human rights, international peace and security, tolerance and respect, amongst others.”
And here is something the Guyana Foreign Affairs Minister needs to be schooled on in her ministry’s ill-advised reaction to the British High Commissioner: The Charter places an obligation on Commonwealth countries to learn “best practices” and support each other by providing resources and technical assistance to achieve them. Legislatures that failed to honour commitments to human rights and democracy, including the rule of law, freedom of expression and the separation of powers, should be held to account.
The accessibility of the Charter to all Commonwealth citizens in their own tongues was also a critical element in ensuring participation of people at grassroots level. Does the Guyana Foreign Affairs Ministry have a copy of the Commonwealth Charter so as to guide it and avoid tripping over itself in a haste to challenge the British High Commissioner and his government on the PPP regime’s refusal to comply with the spirit and letter of the Charter?
The PPP regime needs to stop playing games and set a date for general elections, because even if it reconvenes Parliament, it will face a no-confidence vote that will lead to elections anyway!
Yours faithfully,
Emile Mervin
