Commonwealth Secretary-General, Speaker discuss strengthening of democracy
he local and small international delegation present yesterday when Commonwealth Secretary-General, Mr Kamalesh Sharma called on Speaker of the House, Dr Barton Scotland (Photos by Adrian Narine)
he local and small international delegation present yesterday when Commonwealth Secretary-General, Mr Kamalesh Sharma called on Speaker of the House, Dr Barton Scotland (Photos by Adrian Narine)

 

TAKING centre stage yesterday was the issue of strengthening Guyana’s democracy through the support of the Commonwealth when Secretary-General of the 53-member bloc of nations, Kamalesh Sharma paid a courtesy call on Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr. Barton Scotland. On the final leg of his three-day visit to Guyana, Secretary-General Sharma graced the Chambers of the Speaker where the two talked briefly about Guyana’s democracy.
Following the meeting, from which the media was excluded, the Secretary-General, supported by a local and small overseas delegation proceeded to the Parliament Chambers where he signed the traditional guestbook and posed for a photo ‘op’ to record his short yet momentous visit to Guyana.
In his brief yet significant remarks to the media, Sharma expressed how “special” a moment it is when the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth is afforded the opportunity to visit the place where the heart of democracy beats.
Sharma disclosed that he has assured Scotland of the partnerships from both the Secretariat and Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) which will be working together to strengthen and support the work which lies before him.
To this end, the Speaker eagerly informed the media that the visit by Sharma was truly a “beneficial” one. “We discussed opportunities and areas for strengthening our Parliamentary office and strengthening the culture of democracy in our country; it was an extremely interesting visit.”
Commenting on the Opposition People’s Progressive Party’s (PPP’s) decision to absent itself from the first two sittings of the 11th Parliament, the outgoing Secretary-General offered that, “It is a part of democracy and the important point is that every indication given now is that the list will be released very soon and that is important.”
Pressed by the media for a comment on the widely-held perception that former President Bharrat Jagdeo’s PPP party has been guilty of the same practices he admonished in Sri Lanka while serving as head of the Commonwealth observer mission, Sharma’s remarks were, “I do not comment on domestic politics.”
According to him, the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth uses the services of past Heads of Government very frequently to advance the work of democracy and elections in other parts of the world. He added that he was very pleased when the former President accepted his invitation.
Commonwealth Observer Groups, empowered by the Commonwealth Secretariat with invitations from the respective Governments, have long maintained close relations with electoral agencies throughout the realm of its 53-member countries.
Sharma will soon demit office as Secretary-General, after serving in that capacity for seven years. His presence in Guyana at this time is not only a symbol of the Commonwealth’s support of Guyana, but a reminder of the emphasis placed on the development of smaller countries in the 53-member bloc. The Secretary-General was expected to meet with the PPP following his visit to Scotland, before his departure for Barbados for the July 2 – 5 CARICOM Heads of Government meeting, which will also be attended by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

 
By Ravin Singh

 

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