Dear Editor,
The recent seating controversy at the just concluded flag-raising ceremony to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Guyana’s independence, presented an interesting view of where we are as a nation 50 years later. It is not just that the organizers and particularly the Minister within the Ministry of Education admittedly created this controversy. It is also the reaction to this clear breach of protocol that some continue to excuse. It seems that some Guyanese have lost all understanding of what constitutes nationhood and nation-building.
A society is foremost about its people, disagreeable or not. It is also about symbols, protocols, traditions and history. These are the fundamental organizing principles of a society. It therefore means that on occasions the society places much emphasis on these things. For example, Guyana honours outstanding Guyanese with national awards. We stand at attention when playing the national anthem. We are expected to place our right hands over our chest when saying the pledge. We demand loyalty to country and show patriotism by prominently displaying the flag. We proclaim with pride that we are Guyanese.
Guyanese vote to uphold their democracy and elect representatives. These representatives are seated in the nation’s highest institution of government, the parliament, which consists of sixty-five members in the national assembly. They are expected, however rancorously, to scrutinise the government, make and change laws, debate important issues and check and approve budgets. So these are some very important people in our society.
Therefore, when Guyana celebrates national events, it is expected that these sixty members of parliament are treated with the outmost dignity and respect. In the case of Guyana, the 32 opposition MPs represent half of Guyana’s population. When they are treated with disregard, half of Guyana’s population who used their democratic choice to elect them are treated with disregard. This is the importance that has been placed on members of parliament.
As such, when I read Junior Minister of Education Nicolette Henry’s press statement, it was the poorest excuse of a press release that I have read, the qualifying apology notwithstanding. When planning this event, Minister Henry and her planners should have reserved in excess of 65 seats for MPs that should have been marked “reserved for MPs and spouses”, based on the acknowledgement of invitations, which was no doubt given. The ushers should have met these MPs upon arrival and escorted them to these reserved seats.
No other unauthorized persons should have access to that area. So whether MPs turn up 10 minutes late or not those seats are reserved. This was not done on the admission of the Minister: “Upon my arriving in the Presidential Section the Opposition Leader indicated they [sic] were concerns with the seating. I assured him I will address this immediately, so I proceeded by personally asking other invited persons to give up their seats to ensure the Opposition members were all seated together. As soon as the persons began to give up their seats. The Opposition walked out.”
There were no encomiums from the Members of Parliament. In all fairness, I would have expected her side to do the same had they been in the opposition and treated with such scant regard on such a momentous occasion. The Minister must acknowledge that she and her ministry created this controversy by not following protocol.
The Ministry of Education and Culture should understand and place emphasis on protocol. They messed up. An unqualified apology is warranted.
I understand the animosity towards the opposition by certain sections of the populace. It is not without merit. The PPP/C administration led by Mr Jagdeo and his successor Mr Ramotar governed Guyana in bad ways. They did some reprehensible things.
However, that occasion was not the time for animosity. We have to continue as a nation forging national unity, however daunting. The current administration promised a different type of politics and even though that seating issue may not have been about politics, it was, I believe, a breakdown of the importance of symbols and protocols in our society. The appearance of political disregard inhibits the opportunity for unity. We must move on promising to do better.
Yours faithfully,
Dennis Wiggins
