The Guyana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) reiterates its call for President Ramotar to lift the prorogation of the National Assembly. It cannot be business as usual when it comes to governance since the business of government is not being conducted based on our Constitution.
Since the President’s announcement to retain prorogation with the hint to name a date early next year for elections, the GTUC is alarmed that society has seemingly taken vacation on this issue. This issue has gone on the back burner, submerged among other issues, instead of remaining focal. This is like the fabled Dog and the Shadow, where the bone (i.e. prorogation) is dropped to grab at the shadow (i.e. elections) which the President has cunningly introduced as a distraction and succeeded in taking the main issue (i.e. prorogation) off the table.
Prorogation is not dissolution. The President cannot call elections until parliament is dissolved. As it stands presently parliament is prorogued. A hint of elections while the National Assembly remains prorogued is deceptive and cunning. Dissolution precipitates elections. The President cannot dissolve a prorogued Parliament. Parliament has to be in session before any dissolution can take place. Running after elections at this time is like shooting at windmills and allowing the president an unchallenged dictatorship to run the affairs of State without parliament.
Political parties ought to always be in a state of preparedness for elections. This is even more so in the context that we have a minority government and given the nature of our politics. Preparation for a possible(?) early elections should not take away from fighting against the act of prorogation. And any efficient political force seeking and worthy to be the alternative government should not have a difficulty multitasking.
Our political leaders are called upon to stop acting like the Pied Piper, leading the nation to its doom. It would be an indictment on the opposition if they allow themselves to be accessory to the lawlessness being perpetuated by the President in his contravention of the spirit and intent of the Constitution. For our political leaders to allow President Ramotar to hoodwink the nation with the offer of elections at the end of the prorogated period is to allow him and to confirm upon him immunity to continue his dictatorial reign.
The lack of strident sustained political response on this issue and disjointed failing results is of major concern to the GTUC. The prorogation of Parliament must be lifted and our elected representatives must be allowed their right to return to work on the nation’s behalf.
President Ramotar is called on to stop the abuse of his privilege and end prorogation forthwith. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. David Granger, is called on to mount a serious national movement to refocus the nation’s energies and attention on the President’s act of prorogation, and the raping of public coffers, which at this juncture must take precedent over any ‘threat’ of elections.
It appears that some political leaders have been convinced that the only concern of this nation is that of a privileged section of this society only concerned about their economic gains and seasonal profits. This is unacceptable since the interest of all sectors of society and the common good should determine political action on the act of prorogation. Meanwhile the masses continued to be denied participation through their representatives in the highest decision-making forum of the land. Such a violation of right is unprecedented in the history of Guyana, even under the brutal and worst regime of Bharrat Jagdeo.
The GTUC is concerned some of our politicians are failing this nation and undermining democratic processes enshrined in the Constitution.
