Dear Editor,
As the Twelfth Parliament of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana prepare to enter into its final year, before dissolution in preparation for GRE 2025, it continues to witness the derailment of Parliamentary Democracy under the PPP/C and watchful eyes of Mr. Manzoor Nadir, MP and Speaker of the National Assembly. I, like many, will admit that this has been the worst Parliament in the history of Post-Independence Guyana.
The Government, on assuming office, through their Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mr. Anil Nandlall SC boasted of a ‘robust Parliamentary Agenda.’ Well, the facts am about to present, will truly reveal the PPP/C for who they really are, they cannot and should not be taken seriously. Since the convening of the Twelfth Parliament, in September 2020, the following is the PPP/C’s track record for sittings of the National Assembly; 2020(15), 2021(19); 2022(18); 2023(18) and for 2024 (19 so far), a cumulative of eighty-nine (89) sittings. I guess there will be another sitting or two before the end of year 2024.
As a Member of the National Assembly, I am concerned at the lackadaisical approach by the PPP/C’s management of the National Assembly. There are many social issues, including corruption, which has taken center stage, primarily in all sectors; that should be addressed and common ground found in resolving them at the Parliamentary level. Despite amendments being made to the motor vehicle laws on three occasions; fatal accidents have become immune to our society; without any strategic focus or directions from the collective at the national level. Families and loved ones are left in pain, and the government appears hapless, to have this scourge addressed.
The Sectoral Committee on Security in the National Assembly is dysfunctional, due to the Government’s (Minister Robeson Benn) failure to convene meetings to discuss security matters. This is no fault of the Opposition, since I can only conclude that the Government’s policy is to derail Parliamentary Democracy, and they are not serious about what is happening in the country. Our nation is under siege – every other day a robbery is committed. While penning this letter, I saw a video circulating on social media, where bandits committed a robbery (a second time) on a Chinese supermarket on Aubrey Barker Road, South Ruimveldt. Was anything done to avert a recurrence? Too many illegal guns are in the wrong hands and the authorities, including Minister Benn, have failed to bring perpetrators to justice. However, they are allowed to rule as kings and lords over businesses, putting people’s lives at risk.
The records of the National Assembly will show from the eighty-nine (89) sittings of the National Assembly thus far, the PPP/C majority allowed the Government to either table Bills, or Financial Supplementary Papers whenever they are ready to dip their hands into the Consolidated Funds and the Contingency Funds. Editor, when questions are tabled by Members of the Opposition, many are overtaken by time when answers are provided, due to the sporadic meetings of the National Assembly. In the eighty-eight sitting, answers were provided to questions put by my fellow colleagues, Mr. David Patterson, MP and Ms. Nima Flue-Bess., MP. The responses provided can only be described as atrocious, cynical and disrespectful to say the least. It is sad to witness the Speaker’s failures in reprimanding those ministers and have them provide appropriate responses. At times, these responses found their way into the hands of journalists, who must report what is given to them. Sometimes I pity Mr. Nadir, since I recognized that he is in a peculiar position and can only ensure that his political masters’ requests are carried through.
At the last sitting held on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, the behaviours and attitudes displayed by Ministers of Government, particularly Mr. Kwame McCoy were disastrous, distasteful, despicable and unbecoming. However, while the attacks and onslaughts were meted out to Opposition Members, Speaker Nadir, in my view deliberately allowed the Government members to get away without any form of discipline. But, when an Opposition Member makes reference to ‘corruption,’ or attempt to get the Speaker’s attention, he goes the extra mile to call on that member to withdraw. There is no justice, impartial and fairness from the Speaker. He operates as though children are seated in the House of Assembly.
During the consideration of Financial Papers 1 and 2, on August 9, 2024, I requested information from Mr. Zulifkar Mustapha, MP and Minister of Agriculture on the benefits of the new Chief Executive Officer of GuySuCo, Mr. Paul Cheong, who was appointed sometime in July 2024. At that time, Mr. Mustapha was reluctant in providing the information on the floor and committed to have the information submitted to the Clerk of the National Assembly for circulation. It is disappointing for me to inform your readers that after three months, the information is yet to be provided to the Office of the Clerk, despite being sent several reminders. I can only conclude that there is something to hide by Mr. Mustapha and his government. Mr. Mustapha must be reminded that monies used to effect salary payments and benefits to Mr. Paul Cheong are funded by taxpayers and Members of the Opposition have all rights and privileges to seek information on public officers.
Editor, since the answers have not been provided and Mr. Mustapha has not responded to my official letter of reminder to the Clerk of the National Assembly, I am publicly calling on him to set aside time from his busy schedule, which I assumed is preoccupied with both public and private affairs and respond to the following questions:
1. What is the current salary of Mr. Paul Cheong, CEO, GuySuCo
2. What are the monthly benefits and allowances being paid to Mr. Paul Cheong?
3. What are the contractual engagements between Mr. Paul Cheong and GuySuCo as Chief Executive Officer?
4. What were the salary, benefits and allowances paid to former Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Sasenarine Singh during his engagements with GuyScO?
Finally, I look forward to reading Mr. Mustapha’s responses to my questions above. The Government frequently boasts of being transparent and accountable when it comes to taxpayers’ monies, I therefore called on him to exercise both publicly.
Sincerely,
Annette Ferguson, MP
