IN respect of the recent judicial decision that Parliament could not amend the budget but could reject it in full, Speaker of Parliament Raphael Trotman declared that decision would have far-reaching implications for the Commonwealth Parliamentary System.Mr Trotman may be pleased to consider the following:-
(1) There is no precise concept of a Commonwealth Parliamentary System. For example, Commonwealth countries usually have prime ministers as being head of Government; here in Guyana there is an executive president. Commonwealth countries do not have direct elections for prime ministers; in Guyana the executive president is directly elected.

Commonwealth countries do not have parliamentary elections based on proportional representation; in Guyana we do. And there is a plethora of other differences among Commonwealth states in their parliamentary systems. Justice Chang’s decision could therefore scarcely be of the world-shaking dimensions over the five continents of the world where the Commonwealth is spread as Mr Trotman seems to think.
(2) But Commonwealth states all share in the concept of the three branches of Government and Mr Trotman’s recent remark encapsulates the concept:- “The principle of comity dictates that the three branches of Government – the Executive, the Legislative, and the Judicial – are all separate and equal and are to respect the right and authority of each other.” The Commonwealth Parliamentary System (however viewed) would therefore be horrified to learn that the Guyana Parliament had been trying to arrogate to itself the Executive and Judicial roles, had been trying to ignore and disregard the rulings of the Courts, and even to disobey the Constitution of Guyana. These outlandish actions shame the Commonwealth Parliamentary System.

Mr Trotman could do well to educate the parliamentarians as to the three branches of Government and their respective rights and authority. If they understand the roles of the three branches and their respective rights, duties and authority, then Mr Trotman’s office as Speaker would be less stressful and far happier.
Written By P. RAMLALL