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FM
Former Member

APNU/AFC seems to have lost interest in constitutional reform – Ramkarran

 
 

Close to two years after making a “bold” proposal for a political solution through constitutional reform, the A Partnership for National Unity/ Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) Government seems to have lost that zeal, according to former House Speaker Ralph Ramkarran.

He said the APNU/AFC in its 2015 Manifesto made the “boldest proposals” for a

Former House Speaker Ralph Ramkarran

political solution ever to have been introduced onto Guyana’s political agenda since 1950 through its promised constitutional reform.

In the agreement, the coalition committed to the establishment of a Constitution Reform Committee with a mandate to complete consultations, draft amendments and present same to the National Assembly for approval within nine months.

According to Ramkarran, as it sought to fulfil its mandate, Government appointed a committee headed by Attorney and former AFC Chairman Nigel Hughes to examine the process for constitutional reform. While the committee presented its report to Government almost a year ago, no movement has been seen.

“The report is still before the Cabinet and the process appears to have been stalled. This has led to speculation that the Government has lost interest in constitutional reform, even though it allocated $80 million to constitution reform and appointed Prime Minister (Moses) Nagamootoo to lead the process,” Ramkarran said in his weekly “Conversation Tree” column.

According to him, if the speculation of disinterest is not justified, the Government can demonstrate its bona fides by tabling a motion in the National Assembly seeking support for its Manifesto proposals and the Hughes report. He said such a move would be met with overwhelming support from the Guyanese people.

Ramkarran said the struggle for constitutional reform as a means to attain a political solution to Guyana’s sharp ethno-political divisions remained a burning necessity, which was broadly supported by the Guyanese people.

“It is this yearning that keeps alive the periodic courtship for political unity between the main political parties. Constitutional reform is now even more important at this crucial time when Guyana’s coming oil wealth will increase challenges to transparency and good governance”, Ramkarran posited.

He said an agreed political structure that allowed for participation of both parties in governance, while maintaining political competition and their separate identities, would create political legitimacy, end discrimination, reduce corruption, introduce more transparency, facilitate an agreed economic policy, establish equitable distribution of economic resources, tackle disadvantages or perceived disadvantages of groups, protect the environment and provide for a green economy.

He said although major reforms were adopted in the 1999-2000 constitution reform process, the failure to find a political solution left many feeling unfulfilled. And this, he said, continues to drive the clamour today.

The agreement made in the Cummingsburg Accord regarding constitutional reform read that: the President should be elected by a majority of electors; there should be separate elections for the presidency and National Assembly; executive powers should be shared between the President, Prime Minister and the Cabinet. The Cabinet should comprise members of the parties which have achieved at least 15 per cent of the vote at the national elections; the supreme organs of democratic power should be the President and the National Assembly; and the Prime Minister shall be the person who secures the second highest votes in the presidential elections.

It promised too that the executive powers and responsibilities of the Prime Minister should be increased to include some executive powers and responsibility over the Cabinet; the members of the Cabinet would be subject to the approval of, and removal by, the National Assembly and the immunities of the President would be reduced.

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A seminar on Constitutional Reform was held at the University of Guyana. The event, which was well attended, was organized by the Carter Centre and facilitated by the British High Commission. The PPP and a cross-section of civil society were represented, but conspicuously absent was any APNU or AFC party or Government representatives.

Bibi Haniffa
Last edited by Bibi Haniffa
Nehru posted:

HAHAHA  Django believed every word the PNC told him. Not his fault, when FILTH take over your brain that is expected.

Jangy is a well-educated guy who's looking out for #1 and playing the game to the hilt. He's collecting all the $$ he can, then will settle into retirement. You ain't no match for that brainbox. 

FM

PNC/AFC knows that many changes to the constitution can be made.

However, the fundamental changes such as changing the electoral system and other salient ones require, as a minimum, two-thirds of the MPs.

Practically, PPP and the PNC/AFC each have fifty percent of the MPs.

FM
Bibi Haniffa posted:

The Coalition govt allocated $80 million to constitutional reform and appointed Prime Minister Nagamottoo to lead the process.  So far nothing has been done.

The Neemakharam Probably pocketed the $ 80 million ?

FM
Bibi Haniffa posted:

A seminar on Constitutional Reform was held at the University of Guyana. The event, which was well attended, was organized by the Carter Centre and facilitated by the British High Commission. The PPP and a cross-section of civil society were represented, but conspicuously absent was any APNU or AFC party or Government representatives.

Gilly was bawling about constitutional reform, looks like the AFC/PNC left him high and dry.

The AFC/PNC love their daddy Burnham constitution. Moses should rub black pot on his face.

FM
yuji22 posted:
Bibi Haniffa posted:

A seminar on Constitutional Reform was held at the University of Guyana. The event, which was well attended, was organized by the Carter Centre and facilitated by the British High Commission. The PPP and a cross-section of civil society were represented, but conspicuously absent was any APNU or AFC party or Government representatives.

Gilly was bawling about constitutional reform, looks like the AFC/PNC left him high and dry.

The AFC/PNC love their daddy Burnham constitution. Moses should rub black pot on his face.

It is time to stop treating the Constitution with contempt.

Source

Dear Editor,
The United Nations’ (UN) delegation that was here in February at the government’s request for support in the effort to proceed with constitutional reform, has submitted its report to Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo. It is hoped the sobering input of the world’s second oldest body is heeded.

It is being advised, via the media, that the UN recommends: i) the importance of not rushing the process of constitutional reform; ii) that the process can create an opportunity for social cohesion and nation-building; iii) it must be characterised by meaningful dialogue, negotiation and compromise by the government, opposition and citizens; iv) the Constitutional Reform Commission should be independent, inclusive, and representative of civil society; and v) major attention should be paid to public education and effective participation.

What the UN has advised us in proceeding on this matter of national import is what the Guyana Constitution requires of us. The environment as outlined in Article 13 expressly states, “The principal objective of the political system of the State is to establish an inclusionary democracy by providing increasing opportunities for the participation of the citizens and their organisations in the management and decision-making processes of the State, with particular emphasis on those areas of decision-making that directly affect their well-being.”

Now that this international institution whose existence is premised on the equality of man and treating each other with dignity and respect, has spoken, it is time to cease treating the Constitution with contempt and disdain. Reducing this supreme instrument to satire and ridicule, which frankly indicates no understanding of its spirit and intent and a failure to make the effort to become acquainted with it, is hurting the nation and people’s growth and development.

I recently attended an internationally hosted panel review of the Constitution, where a panellist, who is charged with the responsibility of helping the process, admitted to not having read this instrument. In the first instance you cannot have an informed and educated conversation on something you do not know and expect to give of your best in accomplishing the task required of you. This deficiency is not singular to this panellist but pervasive across the executive, legislative and judicial branches.

The UN’s recommendation that attention be paid to public education and effective participation requires government to provide the leadership. Government has the overarching responsibility for the nation’s education and must see it as incumbent on its part to provide the requisite resources so that society, through education (formal and informal), can know what’s in the Constitution, its requirements, and citizens’ roles and responsibilities. For it is only through knowledge that effective participation can happen, and it is the foremost prerequisite for starting any process. Further, to ask people to participate in changing an instrument that they are ignorant of is to torpedo the objective which the process sets out to achieve.

Amendment/reform is permitted in the Constitution and in order to proceed with same, one has to follow the rules to change the rules. Article 119A (1) expressly states, “The National Assembly shall establish a Parliamentary Standing Committee for Constitutional Reform for the purpose of continually reviewing the effectiveness of the working of the Constitution and making periodic reports therein to the Assembly, with proposals for reform as necessary.” Subparagraph (2) goes on to state, “To assist in its work, the committee shall have power to co-opt experts or enlist the aid of other persons of appropriate expertise, whether or not such experts or other persons are members of the Assembly.”

The UN has pointed us in a direction which has been right in front of our eyes all these years and that is not dissimilar to a call being made by some in the society. The Prime Minister, who is charged with the responsibility for overseeing the constitutional reform consultation, has advised that his office submitted an $80 million budget for the programme. Let this money now be accordingly disbursed after a programme has been conceptualised and developed based on the UN’s recommendations.  The Guyana Trades Union Congress participated in the UN’s engagement and awaits its copy of the report.

Yours faithfully,
Lincoln Lewis

Django

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