Opposition violation of Constitution erodes democratic gains - President
Georgetown GINA, March 23, 2012
President Donald Ramotar maintains that A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) and the Alliance For Change (AFC) are squandering the opportunity to work with the Government and, that the Government’s move to the High Court is to protect the sanctity of parliamentary democracy.
Addressing members of the media during a press conference today at Office of the President, the Head of State said that his continued monitoring of the situation in Parliament clearly shows that, “APNU and the AFC are squandering the opportunity of working together with us in the interest of our nation. They are violating all parliamentary norms and practices.”
He pointed out that since the commencement of the Tenth Parliament there have been willful efforts of the two parties to create a hostile atmosphere in the Chambers whilst being uncooperative and disruptive. The Head of State suggested that the impression given is that they are trying to reverse the democratic gains made since 1992.
“The parliament will be characterised, I believe as a dictatorship of one by the APNU and the AFC; neither one having won individually, a majority of votes over the lawful PPP/C Government which has the largest bloc of votes,” he stated.
The President also slammed the two parties for ignoring the principle of proportionality, explaining that continued attempts to sow confusion was reflected in APNU’s rejection of the suggestion for a forensic audit of the November 28, 2011 General Elections results whilst they continued to play a victim.
He described that act by the opposition parties as a travesty, revealed from the very first meeting to elect the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. “ Despite efforts on my part,” said the President, “on meeting individually, with the APNU and AFC and collectively at the inter-parliamentary dialogue, to reach consensus, the APNU and AFC plunged ahead to elect an AFC Speaker and APNU Deputy, thus breaking completely with traditions of Parliament. ”
The second instance came with the election of the Committee of Selection on the floor of the House. “Again we had discussed this at our meetings. The Government raised the issue of the size and composition of members of the Parliamentary Committees and, to uphold the constitutional provisions with regard to proportionality of the electoral strength of the parties at the elections. Both APNU and AFC totally ignored this and proceeded to take a majority on the committee of selection,” President Ramotar stated.
Government’s proposal was five for the PPP/C, four for APNU and one for AFC, an allocation which would more accurately reflect proportionality of each party’s strength at the polls. “The APNU and AFC formula of equal seats for the Government and APNU and one for the AFC, makes a mockery of the principle of proportionality,” declared the President.
He noted that during the Ninth Parliament, “even when we had an absolute majority, it was we who set up the Parliamentary Management Committee and, we had allowed five seats to the opposition and Government had five, with the Speaker chairing this Committee. But here again we see the tendencies of the opposition … at the first meeting of the Committee of Selection to implement their formula for all committees and to bring Motions to amend those Committees where it clearly states that the Government has the majority… they have moved to change that in the rules.”
The PPP/C has been allocated 32 seats, APNU 26 and the AFC 7, which is based on and proportionate to the number of votes that they received at the elections.
Mathematical calculation on the percentage of seats in the National Assembly will show that the PPP with its 32 seats controls 49.2% of the seats in parliament which is nearly 50%. This would mean the PPP would get 5 seats equivalent to its 50% seats, APNU 4 and AFC 1…however; the opposition is using 9 and the following allocation: PPP-4, APNU-4 and AFC 1.
Government’s approach to the High Court on these violations of the constitution is a significant step to protect the sanctity of the constitution and stop the blatant and reckless disregard for parliamentary democracy, stated the President.
It has also indicated to the Speaker that it will not participate in the elections of Chairpersons, in deference to the proceedings before the High Court.
However, the Committee under the Speaker’s chairmanship proceeded to elect APNU to chair three Parliamentary Committees, while others are assumedly pending their amendment of the Standing Orders to give Government a minority on the Parliamentary Management Committee and the four Sectoral committees.
The Speaker of the National Assembly now chairs seven Parliamentary committees.
Another instance of violation of the Constitution relates to the supplementary financial papers, where Government raised its concerns with the Speaker regarding the erosion of the Standing Orders and parliamentary customs and practices. President Ramotar pointed out that, “The most recent case at the March 21 sitting (of the National Assembly) with regard to their own amendments to the Standing Orders, demonstrates their own disregard of these provisions. Government’s protest led to the Speaker upholding these Standing Orders,” he added.
The measures being pursued by APNU and AFC are intended to undermine the democratic gains made in Parliamentary democracy since 1992, he asserted.