Dear Editor,
I read about the planned establishment of a proposed Constitutional Reform Commission where the political parties have named representatives to serve on this Commission. Taking into account the present socio-economic-political environments of Guyana, this is a complete waste of time, energy and money. But even more egregious, more harmful, and more debilitating is that attention paid to such a Commission would divert the nation’s attention from important bread and butter issues.
At this time, let us devote our time and energy towards ensuring that our people obtain much more from our natural resources. It is crystal clear that no change in our Constitution will change the behaviour pattern of the people in charge of the Government. I can see no adjustment in our Constitution that will change the massive profits of those who are extracting our non-renewable natural resources and will guarantee lifting ordinary people out of poverty.
Out of the Guyana operations, Exxon is allowed to make US$7.6B, but yet the average public servant cannot provide three nutritious meals for their parents and children. If someone can tell me what changes in our Constitution can alter this fact I will readily change my position.
We live in a country where ignoring provisions in the present Constitution has become commonplace. We live in a country where time honoured tradition is emasculated. We live in a country where morality is either trampled upon and trivialised . We live in a country where persons, vaulted into high office, seem not to know the difference between what is right and what is wrong. We live in a country where in the execution of our daily duties there is a thin line between crassness, poor performance, mediocrity and excellence.
We live in a country where the traditional relationship between government and labour – collective bargaining has taken flight. We live in a country where the notion of effective consultation is no longer present. We live in a country where no matter how reasonable a proposal in Parliament by the Opposition, it is ignored. We live in a country where the financial resources are allocated based on the ipse dixit of the ruling cabal. We live in a country where the elite is in control of most of the media and therefore of what people are told. We live in a country where people must await the snail-like pace of a judiciary to dispense justice and where in many instances, we experience the statement that justice delayed is justice denied.
We live in a country where the Party in Office feels it is duty bound to employ every rule or tactic if possible to control every facet of our lives. We live in a country where it appears that every effort is being made to frustrate workers in the traditional public service so that they take refuge by migrating to other countries. Giving the present government the opportunity to bring in others from certain places, obviously to change the demographics which existed from post-slavery.
Whatever time and energy we have left, it should be directed to dealing with the abovementioned state of affairs. The effort must begin within our religious organisations, the home, the school and the community. This with a depraved world is a monumental task but I believe if undertaken in a bipartisan way and with gusto will be much better than any attempt at tinkering with a Constitution.
Dear Citizens and Editor, no matter what we write in a Constitution, unless we can boldly tackle the dilemma of quality leadership and a nation unprepared to accept corruption and mediocrity, the whole exercise is a waste of time, energy and money. I plead that we deal with the gut issues that will make a difference.
It is not what is in the Constitution. It is to get men and women of honour and rectitude to lead our nation.
Yours faithfully,
Hamilton Green
Elder