“CONSTITUTIONS are not to be tampered with, ransacked or subjected to open heart surgery, whimsically or maliciously, because of political disagreement on issues of governance or the powers of a Head of State.”This was the assertion of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) General-Secretary, Clement Rohee, during the ruling party’s weekly press conference yesterday at Freedom House, Robb Street.
“The present Constitution benefited from a series of nationwide consultations between 1999 – 2001, during which the inputs of a wide cross-section of the Guyanese people, including organized labour, religious and cultural organizations and other interested parties and groups were considered. The Private Sector also participated and made inputs to the Constitution Reform Committee,” he said.
Rohee’s comments were a response to the chatter in the combined Opposition camps over the need for Constitutional Reform, since President Donald Ramotar’s move to prorogue Parliament on November 10, to allow for dialogue to break the current political impasse – an undertaking that has proven futile, hence the Head of State’s subsequent announcement that Guyana will head to early general and regional elections next year.
According to the PPP General-Secretary, the last reform of the Constitution done in 2001 took into consideration broad consultations, held between 1999 and 2001, which included recommendations on the powers of the President.
“It is not correct to say that views were ignored,” Rohee stressed, adding that the reforms to the 2001 Constitution were also debated and, as required by law, supported by a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly.
He questioned the rush to reform the Constitution once more, only a mere 13 years after the last reform, particularly given the global status quo regarding constitutional reforms.
“This is indeed a serious slap in the face of Guyanese and their representative organizations which include the political parties, NGOs and civil society, all of whom spent countless hours to put together a Constitution acceptable to all stakeholders,” the PPP General-Secretary said.

NOT A BURNHAM CONSTITUTION
“This is not the ‘Burnham’ Constitution,” Rohee further declared, referencing the frequently criticized national legal framework which included extraordinary provisions.
He explained that unlike the 1980 Constitution, which for all practical purposes was an “imposition” by the then People’s National Congress (PNC) regime, Guyana today boasts one of the most advanced Constitutions in the Caribbean Region.
Rohee said, “(This) is a far cry from what was described as ‘messy, horrible and even 17th century Constitution’ and therefore at complete odds with the suggestion of the need for a new Constitution where all fundamental rights are clearly defined.
“…to compare Guyana with South Korea is misleading and fails to take into account the agonizing political realities of the country during an era when the country was paralyzed and bankrupt by a regime that practised undemocratic rule and mismanaged the economy for close to three decades. Despite that fact, the PPP/C succeeded within a relatively short period to restore economic viability and social progress. Guyana today is a much better place, characterised by good and democratic governance, the rule of law and a robust and dynamic economy.”
The PPP General-Secretary concluded that the comments on the subject of constitutional reform are “erroneous and unsubstantiated” statements, adding that the calls for reforms by the combined Opposition ought to be substantiated by specific references.