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Presidency should be decided by majority vote -AFC proposes in constitution reform

http://www.stabroeknews.com/20...cided-majority-vote/

 

DECEMBER 15, 2014 · BY STAFF WRITER 


The AFC’s proposals for constitutional reform remain a work in progress and thus far, among its initial suggestions are that the President must be able to secure a majority of the votes cast and members of Cabinet should only be appointed subject to the approval of the National Assembly.

Among the initial proposals laid out by the party’s chairman Nigel Hughes at the AFC’s biennial National Conference held at the St Stanislaus College two Saturdays ago was that the organs of democratic power should consist of the National Assembly and the Presi-dency with the Presidency being the minor of the two organs.

“In the event that a new constitution identifies and locates the `organs of democratic power’ in the National Assembly and the Presidency then the election of the President shall be effected directly by the people and not by virtue of being head of any party as exists at present,” he said, according to a copy of his speech made available to Stabroek News.

 

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PPP say no way José

 

http://www.inewsguyana.com/no-...s-2001-constitution/

 

“No perfect constitution in the world” – Rohee warns against ransacking Guyana’s 2001 constitution

December 15, 2014 12:24 pm

 

By Kurt Campbell

General Secretary of the PPP/C, Clement Rohee. [iNews' Photo]

General Secretary of the PPP/C, Clement Rohee. [iNews’ Photo]

[www.inewsguyana.com] – General Secretary of the governing People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Clement Rohee has rejected recent calls by the political opposition for a new Guyana constitution; saying his Party is at complete odds with the suggestion.

 

Rohee said the PPP has taken this position particularly since Guyana’s constitution was reformed 13 years ago.

“Constitutions are not to be tampered with, ransacked or subjected to open heart surgery whimsically or maliciously because of political disagreement on issues of governance or the powers of a Head of State,” he told Reporters at a press conference at Freedom House, Georgetown this morning.

He said the PPP has taken note of recent public utterances which he described as erroneous and unsubstantiated; rejecting assertions that Guyana’s current constitution is backward.

“It is a slap in the face of Guyanese and their representative organizations… all of who spent countless hours to put together a constitution that is acceptable to all stakeholders,” he added.

He said unlike the 1980 constitution, “which was an imposition by the then PNC regime”, the present 2001 constitution benefited from a series of nationwide consultations between 1991 – 2001; adding that Guyana boasts one the most advanced constitutions in the region “which is a far cry from what was described as a messy and horrible constitution.”

Rohee in responding to a question said “let’s face it there is no perfect constitution in the world.” He said the constitution is a very sacred document and should not be “ransacked” because of difference in political views.

Since the prorogation of Guyana’s Parliament by President Donald Ramotar, calls have been mounted for constitutional reform.

Even business mogul, Dr. Yesu Persaud recently spoke of the urgent need for constitutional changes, particularly the powers vested in the Executive.

The two parliamentary opposition parties have made similar calls with the AFC putting forward a proposal in this regard.

Opposition Leader, David Granger. [iNews' Photo]

Opposition Leader, David Granger. [iNews’ Photo]

Opposition Leader, David Granger believes that considering the political state of the country, it is also important to examine other parts of the Constitution and not just the powers of the President.

 

The Leader of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) is reported to have said that as far as Constitutional Reform is concerned, it has become a very popular topic nowadays, but “we need to move away from beer garden talk and find out from the people what reforms they would want to see.”

 

Mars
Originally Posted by Nehru:

The Opposition is the Majority what are they waiting for?

While the opposition parties has a majority of one seat in parliament, the types of changes require the approval of, at least, about two thirds of the MPs.

 

Indeed, it is a good question on what the the PNC is waiting for; since 1992 and the AFC since they were in parliament; to make the needed changes.

FM

They should have a two party system like the USA.  The winner will get 50% + 1 vote in order to win.

 

Should there be a runoff, the the AFC must be eliminated from the polls.

 

Don't bother the AFC will hang themselves. 

R
Originally Posted by Demerara_Guy:

       
Originally Posted by Nehru:
The Opposition is the Majority what are they waiting for?
While the opposition parties has a majority of one seat in parliament, the types of changes require the approval of, at least, about two thirds of the MPs.

Indeed, it is a good question on what the the PNC is waiting for; since 1992 and the AFC since they were in parliament; to make the needed changes.

       
How are the opposition parties going to make changes to the constitution without the PPP when they do not have the two thirds necessary votes?
Mars
Last edited by Mars

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