Speaker demands retraction of ‘terrible’ decision
“Any further delay in doing so will plunge us further into a state of unconstitutionality,”
By Kiana Wilburg
Describing yesterday’s decision to prorogue Parliament as one of the darkest in Guyana’s political history, House
House Speaker,
Raphael Trotman
Speaker Raphael Trotman not only condemned the government for “taking a terrible decision” but also sought to demand that it retracts its decision and reconvene the House.
Trotman said that any further delay will plunge the nation into a state of unconstitutionality.
The Speaker’s comments came at the end of a meeting in the National Assembly which saw members of the political opposition delivering passionate presentations to the House on the government’s “shocking decision.”
Trotman said that he believes that it is unfortunate that this year, members of the government could even dare to be using this route which not only circumvents dialogue at the political level, but also the will of the people.
With the regard to the shouts for justice by seemingly irate protestors outside of the Parliament, Trotman said that he was not the least bit surprised by it. The shouts caught the attention of most politicians.
He said that the response of the people is justified in light of the suspension of Parliament, “their Parliament at that.” He emphasized that it is an infringement on their rights.
“The people have a right to have issues of great national importance debated,” he added.
Commenting on what he believes will be a frightening rise in the tension levels of the nation, the Speaker said that he will continue to hold out that in the end, commonsense will prevail among the political leaders.
He added that there is serious need for an intervention in light of the circumstances and its implications. He said that he is hoping that the international bodies such as the United Nations would note the state of the political climate and intervene.
“There is serious need for a third party intervention but in the past we have seen that our Members of Parliament have not been able to see eye to eye…But we cannot go along this path. I am hoping that
The scene at Parliament yesterday.
some international body would step in.”
Asked if he agreed with the political opposition’s response to shut down all future talks with President Donald Ramotar in light of the decision to prorogue the Parliament, he answered in the affirmative.
Trotman said that he believes that the response by the Opposition is fair and reasonable.
“You can’t ask me to talk when you have tried to castrate the Parliament…The government has certainly made a terrible decision,” he added.
Considering the fact that the government used a part of the constitution which has never been used since Guyana attained its independence, Trotman said that it underscores the need for a constitutional overhaul.
He said that that part of the Constitution which refers to the prorogation of the Parliament, as he understood it, was not supposed to be used. He believed that it was understood that such a provision would only lead to a constitutional crisis, to say the least. He thought that it was understood to be an archaic provision.
“But the government has now used it for all the wrong reasons,” Trotman added.
The Speaker also made known another worry of his. He said that when the National Assembly was in session, the Public Accounts Committee had highlighted many major financial discrepancies.
In the absence of scrutiny which will follow as a result of the suspension of Parliament, Trotman said that one can only imagine the improprieties that will be taking place.
“It really is a sad day for democracy, a sad day for Guyana,” he concluded.