PARLIAMENT, in our constitutional structure, is one of the epicentres of democracy. It is that forum through which representatives of the people, elected by the people, oversight executive actions to ensure that there is accountability in relation to the expenditure of public funds; that the Government of the day acts within the confines of the law and the constitution; that the people’s constitutional and legal rights are not violated; that laws are passed in accordance with the Constitution andare designed to advance the welfare of the people or to rectify some social or other dilemma which they may be confronting.Dr. Jagan gagged
In short, the entire Parliamentary process has one golden thread running through it. It must at every level haveas its ultimate objective, the advancement of the welfare of the people. Indeed, that is the singular mandate of every Parliamentarian. They sit in the Parliament at the people’s expense and at the people’s pleasure.

The level and quality of democracy in any country can safely be measured by how its Parliament functions and what level of participation that Parliament offers to its people, directly or through their elected representatives.

During the PNC dictatorship, the people’s will and the people’s votes were stolen. Consequently the people’s representation in the National Assembly was unlawfully and undemocratically diminished. Hence, after the 1985 elections, the People’s Progressive Party, though universally recognized as the most popular representative of the people of Guyana,was granted eight seats in the National Assembly, as the people’s ballots were hijacked and their freedom to elect a government of their choice, massacred. Even that minuscule representation which was given to the people was dealt another blow when Dr. Cheddi Jagan was unlawfully and undemocratically prevented from speaking for several years in theNational Assembly. He was gagged by the then PNC speaker, Mr. Sase Narine. On October the 5th 1992, the people’s freedom to vote for a Government of their choice was restored after 28 years. The PPP/Civic was elected to office. We renewedour pledge then to the people of this country that we will remain at the forefront of every struggle to ensure that the democracy and freedom which were won will always be enjoyed and that we will resist with our every might, any attempt to whittle away this freedom. Indeed the PPP/Civic, through President Dr. Cheddi Jagan, in his first address to the sixth (6th) Parliament of Guyana, vowed to take the Parliament to the people and make the Parliament a truly deliberative forum where the people’s welfare will be given the priority it deserves.

 Parliamentary reforms
In pursuit of this pledge, the PPP/Civic Administration, over the last 21 years, has made wide ranging reforms to the Parliamentary system. We have established the best committee system in the history of our Parliament. We have reformed the Constitution and the standing orders to increase the powers of these committees in order to ensure greater and more effective participation of the Opposition. We have restored the Auditor General’s Report after an absence of over twelve years. We have implemented a system where any question can be asked of any Minister regarding any matter relating to his sector by any Opposition Member and the Minister is obliged to answer.

Additionally from 1992 to 2011, when the PPP/Civic enjoyed a majority, the democratic practice of receiving and presenting to the House,Petitions from individuals as well as representative organizations,were developed. In this regard, Petitions from organizations representing the Amerindians, the religious community, the labour movement, the business community and civil society were received and tabled in the House by both the Government and the Opposition without any objections from the PPP/Civic in National Assembly. The obvious rationaleis that we feel that the National Assembly is a forum at which the people’s voice must be heard by their representatives and through their representatives.

PSC gagged
It is against this background that I view with deep concern a trend which is now developing in the Tenth (10th) Parliament, in which the Opposition controls a majority. A month ago, the Private Sector Commission requested Mr. Manzoor Nadir, MP, to present a Petition on their behalf in the National Assembly. The Petition simply called upon the National Assembly to pass the Anti-Money Laundering Bill and explained the significance of passing theBill and the impact that it will have on the people of Guyana if it is not passed.

The PSC is an umbrella body which represents 18 (eighteen) business organisations engaged in every sphere of the financial, commercial and economic sectors of our country. These activities are carried on in every corner of the country. These organisations, directly and indirectly, employ hundreds of thousands Guyanese and contribute significantly to our economy. The Opposition voted against the Petition being tabled. In effect, they prevented the voices of hundreds of thousands of Guyanese from being heard in their own National Assembly.

 Cricket stakeholders gagged
At the last sitting of the National Assembly, a similar Petition was presented. This time by persons who consider themselves stakeholders of cricket. The Petition was signed by nearly four thousand (4000) persons from all three counties and more particularly, Region 10. The Petition simply calls for the expeditious passage of the Cricket Administration Bill, which is pending in the National Assembly. Again, the Opposition voted against this Petition being presented. Again, they have gagged the voices of thousands of people from being heard in their own National Assembly.

Rohee gagged
I expressed similar apprehensions when they gagged Minister Clement Rohee from speaking. I said then, that when the rights of one free man are taken away, the freedom of every free man is threatened. We challenged it in the Court. The Chief Justice upheld my arguments. The Speaker subsequently agreed in a ruling handed down. They have now gagged thousands of Guyanese. This is nothing short of authoritarianism. This despotic approach is captured by the words of two of the most senior politicians on the Opposition’s benches. APNU’s Mr. Carl Greenidge labelled the PSC “a propaganda outfit”. AFC’s Mr. Moses Nagamootoo said, “They have no vote here and should have no voice here.” These are not matters which must be taken lightly. They are but expressions of a deep seated anti-democratic philosophy and thinking.If nothing else, it gives an insight of what will happen in our dear land should they ever assume the reigns of Executive Government.

Dictatorship and authoritarianism shall undoubtedly return.
Written By Mr Anil Nandlall, MP