Blue Caps is recording its public support for maintaining the constitutional amendments implemented with the passage of two clauses which limit the president of Guyana to two elected terms.
In a press release, the group said while it compliments this example of citizen engagement by Cedrick Richardson, a private citizen of Guyana, asking to nullify the constitutional amendments implemented with the passage of two clauses contained in Act No 17 (2001), and notwithstanding the outcome of the judicial challenge, it firmly believes that the previously enacted amended constitutional provisions should be maintained.
Presidential term limits, most often two terms, are a common – even essential- feature of many democratic constitutions around the world. “The concept of term limits allows for smooth transitions of power and offers a regular periodic guarantee of presidential change and balance,” the group said.
Further, the group said, considering the enormous powers vested in the executive office, the time and responsible departure from power effectively curtails the potential and temptation for practices that constitute abuse of office. It also added that an executive’s prolonged tenure in office can lead to greater centralisation and personalisation of power, and the depending entrenchment of informal patronage networks. “Prolonged tenure also creates an accountability deficit that makes the practices of sincere, productive governing with the public’s interest at heart more vulnerable to being tainted by corruption and greed,” the group said.
