Real democracy continues to elude Guyana

The first quarter of the year has been completed and the National Assembly was convened only four times. Social Commentator and Attorney-at-law, Christopher Ram, said that such a state of affairs is not reflective of a country faring well with democracy.

Ram said this as he recently delivered the featured address to the triennial Conference of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) He said that while the Coalition Government has proven to be friendlier with democracy in certain areas, the government’s performance in other areas is disappointing. Ram said, “This Government has a much better record than its predecessor in terms of constitutional bodies and local government elections. But there are other developments that are cause for concern. “President (David) Granger has appointed himself as the counterpoint to pronouncements by the judiciary. He has unilaterally handpicked a Chairman of the Elections Commission whose principal function is the declaration of who is to be President.”

Ram said that the Granger Government decides if and when the people’s representatives the National Assembly will meet and what business they can transact. The National Assembly has had four sittings for the year even though 100 days have already passed. The House met three times in January and once in March. Ram said that this is unacceptable and “it is not the democracy that we have been promised.”

(Kaieteurnews)