Guyana’s parliamentary democracy under threat – Teixeira

By Samuel Sukhnandan –

Chief Whip of the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C), Gail Teixeira said Guyana’s parliamentary democracy is under threat, slamming the parliamentary opposition for what she described as the continued disrespect for the House’s laws, norms, and standing orders.

Teixeira made the comments on Monday while addressing the media at a news conference. She charged that the opposition has repeatedly broken conventions governing the House.
Parliamentary committees
According to her, almost 80 per cent of all committees in Parliament are governed by opposition members. Pointing to another issue, she said while the government has the sole prerogative to set a date for the next sitting of Parliament, the opposition is demanding that role.
“Clearly, the mood in Parliament and the behaviour on the floor does not give one much hope that the opposition intends to change its approach and to move from what we call one-vote dictatorship in the Guyana Parliament,” Teixeira stated.
Recounting the experience during the February 14 sitting of the National Assembly, Teixeira noted that Deputy Speaker Deborah Backer acted out of her jurisdiction, when she refused to have Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee speak.
Referring to the issues encountered during the last sitting, Teixeira said it is just a sequel in the story of the 10th Parliament, while reiterating that parliamentary democracy in Guyana is under threat.
The PPP/C stalwart stated that the disrespect shown to members of the government side of the House must stop, coining it “bullyism”. She also opined that things could get worse, if this behaviour does not change soon.
Meanwhile, Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall said the PPP/C has a long history of absolute commitment to democracy in all its forms.
Nandlall stated that democracy was of great importance to the party’s founder leader and former president of Guyana, Dr Cheddi Jagan. Nandlall is of the view that following the 2011 general elections, there has been a total assault on democracy, and on the Constitution to which parliaments generally subscribe.
Common trend
“We have seen a common trend of: denial of rights, pursuit of personal agenda, assault on Constitution and interference of executive functions,” Nandlall stated. He also made mention of the denial of funds to construct the Cunha Canal on the East Bank of Demerara, to bring relief to famers and residents that experience frequent floods.
On the issue of dialogue, Teixeira said the government has been committed to meeting with the opposition and having dialogue on a way forward. The party’s chief whip explained that coming out of the Region 10 agreement and even before that, the ruling party has made every effort to meet with the Region 10 Chairman Sharma Solomon and continues to meet on other matters with other members of the opposition.
Since April last, Opposition Leader David Granger met with President Donald Ramotar on more than one occasion. They have also discussed the appointment of the chief justice and the chancellor of the judiciary, among other issues.