Dear Editor,
Democracy, it is often said, is the governing of the society by a majority mandate. However, this is only partly true, it is much more than that.
The democratic system must also safeguard the rights of the minorities as it does the rights of the majority. Minority here is used broadly to include those in the minority as to opinion. To do so society has developed various institutions to ensure that the law is applied equitably and that fundamental human rights are protected, upheld and promoted.
All democratic societies have three fundamental division of powers. They are the Executive, normally elected at free and fair elections, the Legislative, the Parliament where laws are discussed, debated and passed; and the Judiciary, this branch of government interprets the laws and ensure that it applies to all equally.
To ensure that the functions of these bodies are fair, society has sought to give them independence, to insulate them from the pressures of the Executive. Other important institutions of the state are also treated similarly. The police and the Elections Commission, to name but two others.
To allow those important bodies to function independently the individuals appointed are given security of tenure. Persons in the Constitutional offices cannot be dismissed by the whims and fancies of the Executive. They should not have to fear losing their jobs.
That is why the appointments of persons to these high positions is so very important. The character, integrity of the individuals become extremely important, very vital. The institutions are managed by individuals. Therefore, individuals here acquire really great significance. Such people when they remain loyal to their oath, the society is strengthened in every way. When they succumb to pressure by the Executive and act as an instrument of the Executive the society deteriorates.
I am convinced that the slide to dictatorship which Guyana experienced from the late 1960s occurred because many of the individuals that headed important constitutional offices failed to live up to their oath of managing without fear or favour, affection or ill-will.
They allowed the courts, the police, the Elections Commission to become arms of the ruling PNC. The result was great damage done to our country. Unfortunately, we have not overcome all the effects of that era. That is the real reason why we still lag behind the Caribbean in many respects.
Of course, there were some who stood up. They were removed due to the silence of the society.
I have been writing about the ominous signs appearing in the conduct of the governance of the country.
Every day your laws are being violated. This is in relation to procurement and in the awarding of contracts. This is leading to corruption in the society. Some of the decisions of the courts, the trumped-up charges placed on former ministers and senior officials of the PPP/Civic administration by the DPP are extremely troubling.
Very worrying also is the behaviour of the Police. The SOCU seems more interested in harassing political opponents of the regime. Their mandate to fight money launderers seems to have been lost.
The arrest of Shafraz Beekham in Berbice after he exposed the trickery and illegal acts of the AFC in obtaining signatures for the backing of the Party for the Local Government Elections is extremely dangerous.
While most of the society have remained quiet leaving the PPP/C to fight the illegality of the appointment of the Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission, the purging of that institution and public institutions of Indian-Guyanese is extremely sad. People are sitting back as gradually their rights are being taken away.
It is not too late. Those in top constitutional holders must appreciate that they too are leaders in the society. They must give our country the integrity and morality so vital for social and economic progress of any society.
The functions of these institutions can either help in the growth of a dictatorship with only the appearance of democracy or they can help to ensure the slogan ‘Government of the people and by the people’ becomes a reality.
The responsibility is great.
Yours faithfully,
Donald Ramotar
Former President
