Dear Editor,
There were three encouraging developments carried in the media on Wednesday, June 29. Things would be more encouraging if any or all were to become reality, even partial reality. If implemented and enforced, there could be significant differences in the life of Guyanese, and the quality of governance. A start is made with the President.
First, President Granger was reported to be open to taming presidential powers through constitutional reform. I would have used curtailing or reducing, as opposed to “taming.” Still, I do see that those extended and abused powers did reveal a certain wildness and concentrated malevolence when in motion. I think that any reducing would be healthy, progressive, and a major development that is in the best interests of this society. There is little negative to such a “taming.” Now, I would go further and eliminate all immunities from prosecution currently existing for presidents.
Authentic servants of the people must be made answerable for high crimes and misdemeanours when such are the case; the constitutional shields are in and of themselves indefensible. I go still further and say that reform should include provision for political parties (whether in government or opposition) to be held liable for the actions of their agents. No group dedicated to clean campaigning and unimpeachable governance should have any issue with this. Well at least not publicly. The objective has to be to defang what has poisoned and deadened for so long.
Second, ( again in SN), there was a sub-committee recommendation to widen the code of conduct to include the private life of public figures. I say by all means, as I see little, if any, distance between the private and public lives of those who raised hand and stepped forward into public service. They ought not to be afforded the same protective veils as regular citizens. I believe that private misconduct, such as DWI, inciting racial hostility (or aiding and abetting those who do), and failing to honour contractual obligations, among other things, should all become subject to scrutiny and redress. Right now, there is knowledge of someone in a key position at a very sensitive government office who owes money and refuses to honour his debt. The executive has been made aware.
Third, there was an item in KN, which said that City Hall was moving to take back the parapets. That is not only overdue, but music to the ear and comforting to commuters of every tint. Show the nation how real this is going to be. There is more for City Hall to do. It should move to take back parking squatting areas that clog junctions, making them into blind intersections ‒ dangerous ones; take back the sleaze and slush (inside and outside) City Hall; take back the impenetrable shrouds of secrecy that point to backwardness and the scurrilous; and take back the arrogance.
Editor, I submit that even if there is only limited action in each of these areas, that this country will be a better place in which to live. At all levels, citizens have exhibited the indiscipline and reckless disregard for obligations that have contributed heavily to the embedded lawlessness prevalent.
Let there be some action in another direction from those in charge.
Yours faithfully,
GHK Lall
