Henry Jeffrey

For those who have some understanding of the nature and workings of political parties, a few weeks ago we were treated to a quite extraordinary exchange between former speaker of the National Assembly, Mr.

If they were unaware of it before, the recent hoopla about the cuts that were made to the 2012 budget by the opposition has certainly enlightened the citizenry as to the limitations on the role of the National Assembly in the budget process.

Last week I completed my article with the contention that the budget cannot be properly scrutinized by the Committee of Supply of our National Assembly.

If the public reaction to last week’s article (Cheddi’s mantra was `give them the books’ SN: 16/05/12) is anything to go by, discussions between the government and the opposition on financial matters will not bear much fruit anytime soon.

“Interest and objectives are two sides of the same coin. They are closely related, yet being able to differentiate one from the other can often make all the difference during negotiations.”

The Stabroek News, quoting GINA, reported that in response to the statement by Opposition Leader, David Granger “that he is ready for Government to seek a supplementary budget provided that certain conditions are met, President Ramotar said that he is not running a `casino-type’ operation and maintains that all decisions will be based solely on what is in the best interest of Guyana and its people.”

What took place in Linden over the proposed increase in the electricity rates for the community is truly astonishing. 

Two weeks ago I said that for us to grow into a “normal” political society we should consider putting in place three transitional measures.

Separation of powers is the cornerstone of any list of checks and balances for a shared governance regime (“A shared governance regime must contain strong checks and balances!”

Mario is a pimp and a heroin addict in Rome. He regularly pays graft.

In 1649 Charles 1 King of England was beheaded largely because he tried to raise taxes without the authority of parliament.

For a country that has remained the poorest in the English speaking Caribbean and one of the poorest in the northern hemisphere notwithstanding its abundant agricultural and mineral, to say nothing of human resources, the prospect of our finding oil in the near future has generated an almost reckless optimism. 

The Organisation of American States report on the 28th November 2011 elections in Guyana.

All who care to already know that funding is the major ailment affecting the University of Guyana.

Of the seven Caribbean countries surveyed in the recent United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Citizens Security Survey, Guyana has experienced the greatest loss in human development caused by inequality between the respective achievements of men and women.

Two weeks ago (“PPP/C has an historic opportunity …..:”  SN 25/01/12) I promised to address what it is that politicians can mean when they claim that their policy or actions are based on ‘principle.’

Recently, Newt Gingrich criticised President Obama for being too nuanced in his policy-making and Fareed Zakaria, on one of his CNN programmes, rightly wondered why being nuanced should be criticised.

“I mean, since David Granger opposed Nagamootoo because, ipso facto, the defecting may very well be a ‘spy job’ in the making, then what exempts Trotman from that kind of suspicion (from the rest of the lot)?

Notwithstanding all the opposition talk of seeking to create a new political culture in Guyana, its recent antics are as old as the hills, but the PPP/C is not without fault and should not use the opposition’s faux pas to prevent us from moving forward in a timely and efficacious manner.

The current discourse about the election of a speaker for our new National Assembly has been variously described and assessed but here I will discuss the opportunity it presents us to identify and contemplate some important issues, the nature of which are likely to stay with us as we go forward in the present political context.