GUYANA | Of Constitutional Ignorance and the Need for political Change

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA, AUGUST 26, 2024 - You cannot change something, with any degree of credibility or commitment, if you have failed to understand it and give it a chance to work.

 I continue to believe, unless shown otherwise, that the rigours required to bring about constitutional compliance, including change/amendment, is not being done.

In this environment such behaviours empower the Jagdeo/Ali regime to continue with its lawlessness, abuse of the nation’s resources, escalate their divide and conquer policy, and run roughshod over the people. 

Ignorance of the Constitution of  Guyana and non-adherence to the supreme law empower both Government and Opposition. The only victims under these circumstances are the ordinary people.

On one hand the government’s misconduct is accepted as a weakness of the constitution and is being used by a non-militant opposition as an excuse not to perform. The existing scenario makes a mockery of the political system and conditions acceptance of non-accountability from those elected by the people, paid by the people to be in service of the people, to abrogate their obligations to the people.

I strongly believe in order to change the constitution it is important to first understand the instrument-which is the foundation upon which legislation must be built-and what is being done to give life to this document consistent with the people’s aspirations as expressed in Article 13 and the national motto.

Our national motto “One People One Nation One Destiny” underpins the common desire of all Guyanese, irrespective from whence we came or how we arrived to these shores, to forge relationships that could guarantee the respect, meaningful participation and peaceful co-existence of all under established principles that hold all accountable, without exception.

Article 13 in the constitution defines the Principal Political Objective of the State, requiring of the political system an “inclusionary democracy” which replaced  “consultative democracy,” that arose from the 1999 constitutional reform process.

Yet more than two decades after this amendment was signed (2001), there has been no law, executive order, policy and programme instituted to give it effect. 

For instance, there has been no movement to ensure all Guyanese have a say in the management of revenue accrued from oil and gas by amending the Appropriation Law to ensure that both Government and Opposition sides of the House work towards consensus.

The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) is on record proposing this law be amended to have the Budget passed by at least two-third majority which would entail negotiations among the parliamentarians from various regions and parties.

These conversations and actions are not happening to make the constitution work. There continues to be the endless conversation about constitutional reform in the absence of serious push for constitutional compliance, depriving and denying the very people claims are being made to be interested in and watching out for.

I am firm in my conviction that the ordinary man and woman will galvanise behind any political leadership that helps them to understand the constitution, what they must do to make it work, including pushing for amendments if needed.

There seems to be greater interest to obey the article within the constitution to effect amendments to consolidate power but not to obey other aspects of the constitution that safeguard citizens’ social, economic and political rights.

Make no mistake, no part of the constitution can be amended without complying with the articles within that say how it must be done.

Any political leader, be it Government or Opposition, that helps the society to understand the nexus of Article 13 and importance of amending the Appropriation Act would undoubtedly have the support of the people.

Any political side, Government or Opposition, that moves to realise this amendment in the National Assembly to make the allocation of financial resources inclusive will be seen by the people as acting in their interest.

People are sick and tired of hearing some communities getting billions of dollars in support while others go without. Something is wrong with this picture.

Regardless of how conversation on constitutional reform is seen as a sexy topic, something is wrong with this sexiness for whilst the grass is growing the horse is starving.

Unequivocally, it is not the constitution that is failing, it is the elected leaders who we are all paying to act in our best interest.

Lincoln Lewis

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