FORMER Presidential Adviser on Governance, and Chief Whip of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Madam Gail Teixeira, has objected to Government’s use of the Bible in the official budget speech, something which Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman said is serious and troubling.During his budget presentation on Thursday evening, Minister Trotman mentioned Teixeira’s objections, but the PPP front-bencher said she protested the use of Bible phrases in the Budget Speech because the budget is an official State document and should not show preference for any religion.

Teixeira reminded that Guyana is a secular State, though also multi-religious; and she said that while she did not have a problem with MPs making references to the Bible or any other holy book during their presentations, it was her opinion that an official State document should not show preference to any one religion.

Trotman, however, said Teixeira’s objection to the use and references to scripture by members of the Government may appear a simple matter, “but to us it is serious.” Guyana, he said, is a secular state indeed, and yet we have the good sense to give a prayer to the “Almighty God” whenever we meet here.

He said many MPs attend functions elsewhere, official and otherwise, and prayers are said at those functions, “and we ourselves say those prayers and quote different verses of scripture from our various holy books”.

Trotman said he has sat and admired the fluent way in which MP Vindhya Persaud quotes from her holy book, “and even in this debate alone, (I) have heard the Hon. Members Edghill, Dharamlall and Ramson quote scripture comfortably.”

“Much to my pleasant surprise, the Hon. Member NeendKumar cited a well-known passage from Psalm 118, which tells us to rejoice in the day that the Lord has made,” Trotman revealed. “It seems that we are having a revival in here, and that is a good thing. I believe we have become too “politically correct”; too afraid to affirm our faith and to acknowledge that we have strong spiritual beliefs.

“I would hate to think that we can practise our religion in closets and be afraid to embrace it when in public. I say let us be like Daniel and open the windows and not hide our faith! Mr. Speaker, in this hallowed House are Christians, Hindus and Muslims, and even some who may be agnostic and atheists. That is our individual right, and no one should attempt to instruct us not to profess our faith. It is a dangerous suggestion,” Trotman said.

He added: “We on this side, and I am happy to know that there are some over there as well, acknowledge that we are mere mortals. We are not infallible, neither do we consider ourselves immutable or invincible; and so, whenever we quote from scripture, we are affirming our faith and acknowledging a higher authority over our lives and our decision-making. The Book of 2nd Samuel, Chapter 23 verse 3, tells us that: ‘He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God’.
If there is any amongst us who rejects the quoting of any scripture, whether it be from any holy book –- Bible, Bhagavad Gita or Koran — then you need to check yourselves; something may be wrong.

“Before I leave this subject, I wish only to state that as a nation we must thank God for His goodness and mercy before we start our official celebrations for the 50th anniversary; and (we need) to invite His presence into the next 50 years. We know, Mr. Speaker, that where the name of God is invoked, we trust that no danger will ensue,” Trotman noted.

Trotman also stated that the tenor of the debate has not been the best, but certainly not the worst that has been witnessed in this House. “I believe that there are two fundamental matters that I should address – fundamental to good governance and to our inclusive and participatory democracy: We were lectured about respect and disrespect, and I feel it is my duty to point out some glaring examples; and not just for the sake of doing so, but to ask how long will we continue as we are?”

He mentioned that there was disrespect shown when the Opposition was invited to have its members become part of joint committees and the invitation was declined. “In the past, when a similar invitation was issued, we respected the high office of the President and we attended. There has been disrespect shown in failing to honour the Herdmanston process by not taking up seats on Boards and Committees.

“There was disrespect shown when the Minister of Finance gave the budget presentation and the Leader of the Opposition chose to sit in the Members’ Lounge. Neither Desmond Hoyte, Robert Corbin nor David Granger ever disrespected the PPP’s Finance Minister in such a manner,” Trotman charged.