GUYANA’S democracy is maturing; and while there can be economic growth in the absence of democracy, there cannot be inclusivity.
President Bharrat Jagdeo made this statement yesterday while addressing the opening of the 11th Session of National Youth Parliament at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal. The Head of State was at the time alluding to the main topic of debate on yesterday’s agenda, “Guyana’s democratic Framework is providing for a modern inclusive society”.
Explaining one of the main aspects in the evolutionary process, he said, “In a few months time, I will depart the office as President of Guyana; and this is the first time ever in the Caribbean, and in our history, that a sitting president will depart office, not being defeated, but departing because of a constitutional amendment that was passed by the Party, and I signed into law.”
According to President Jagdeo, this development heralds a new stage in the country’s democracy and is testimony to its maturation.
“In the past, this would have been unheard of, and in many countries people cling to office at all costs; it shows, in my view, the maturation of our democracy and I fully support this amendment,” he asserted.
The Guyana Constitution Reform Commission, comprising representatives of all parties in Parliament, was formed to undertake the process of constitutional reform, and by a majority of 12 to 4, across party lines, recommended in 2000 that “a person shall hold the office of president for a maximum of two terms and those terms shall be consecutive.”
The Bill that came to the National Assembly limited the terms to two, but did not provide for them to be consecutive; it was supported by both political parties and is now law.