Dear Editor,
From Dr. Ramcharan’s pen: “It would help us to navigate our way inside Demo-cracy Inc. if we could negotiate a new system of governance that would give every Guyanese a sense of belonging, or ownership, of their system of Governance”. Dr. Ramcharan calls for a new system of governance. Couldn’t be clearer than that. Not nuanced. Crystal clear.
Legacy of PR has scarred this country. Today it is a racially-divided State, complete with ethnic parties. Only Indians can be leaders of PPP; only Africans, leaders of PNC. They both refined it a little bit. The PM post goes to the alternative race group, then comes the shocker. A vacancy in the presidency? And both PPP and PNC place restrictions. African PM of PPP cannot succeed to the presidency; Indian PM of PNC ditto. If that’s not institutionalized racism by the ethnic parties, what is? Hard to imagine these same parties turn around and claim they are promoting and building One Guyana.
I call for the following steps to be given consideration by the Constitutional Reform Commission:
(1) Go back to FPTP, 53-Electoral Districts system. Let each ED elect its own Independent MP.
(2) Let 53 MPs elect/appoint a PM and members of his Cabinet to run the Executive Branch of Govt.
(3) Appoint an Upper House (professionals, experienced) to advise, educate, help the Lower House on the legislating of laws and formulation of national policies.
Seek a relationship with one of the ABC countries. Ask the selected country to appoint a Governor-General to “oversee” our Constitutional system with the specific objective of helping the nation overcome its racially-divided state. At some point (maybe 3 or 4 election cycles), the nation will “mature” enough to reintroduce political parties; be sure to set criteria to prevent reversion to ethnic parties.
Sincerely,
Mike Persaud
