-in letter to Speaker
APNU+AFC Member of Parliament (MP), Amanza Walton-Desir, has expressed concern over the ban on the use of the word “corruption” in parliamentary proceedings and in a letter to the Speaker of the National Assembly stated her view on how apart from being “frankly, absurd”, such a restriction is inimical to the role of Parliament as a forum for truth, accountability, and robust debate.
In her letter, the MP pointed out that the ban which was instituted by the Speaker Manzoor Nadir some time ago, has always been a subject of concern for those parliamentarians who believe in “free and open” debate, noting that a number of developments have brought the “absurdity” of the ban into sharp focus. One such example, she referenced, is the Government of Guyana’s anti-corruption expo it hosted last month to much fanfare – “a commendable effort in principle. Yet, under the current parliamentary edict, I and for that matter, Minister Gail Teixeira, under whose ministerial auspices the expo was convened, would not be able to properly reference this event in the National Assembly because its very title includes the forbidden word.”
Walton-Desir in her missive posited that the situation borders on the “comical,”, asking, “How does one discuss combating corruption without being able to say the word? Should we as MP’s refer to the expo as the “anti- ‘C’ event?” Or perhaps invent euphemisms, like “the battle against dishonesty that shall not be named?” Such linguistic gymnastics, she proffered, is unbecoming of a serious parliamentary discourse and makes Parliament the subject of further ridicule.
According to the letter, the role of Parliament is to serve as a forum for truth, accountability, and robust debate, and to ban words central to these functions – particularly one as pivotal as “corruption” – undermines the dignity and purpose of this august body. Further it sends a troubling signal to the citizenry that while the government may host expos and deliver speeches on a so-called battle against corruption, Parliament itself cannot openly discuss the issue.
The MP took pains to point out that all this is not merely a matter of semantics, but a matter of principle. “If we are serious about addressing corruption in all its forms, we cannot shy away from naming it. Banning the word does not make the problem go away. Instead, it creates the illusion that we are more concerned with appearances than action.”
Walton-Desir urged the Speaker to reconsider the decision. “Let us restore to the National Assembly the freedom to engage in meaningful discourse, to name the issues we face, and to work together to resolve them. The citizens of Guyana deserve no less.”
