A country’s Legislative Assembly is the guardian of the nation. Wikepedia defines Parliament thus: “A Parliament is a legislature. More specifically, “Parliament” may refer only to a democratic government’s legislature. “The term is derived from the French parlement, the action of parler (“to speak”): A parlement is a discussion. In around 1300 the term came to mean a meeting at which such a discussion took place. It acquired its modern meaning in the mid-14th Century, as it came to be used for the body of people (in an institutional sense) who would meet to discuss matters of State.
“Generally, a Parliament has three functions: Representation, Legislation and Parliamentary control (i.e., hearings, inquiries).”
Therefore, the Parliament of nations is the forum where political parties make representation for the rights of their constituents. The Parliament of Guyana was created by the 1966 Constitution of Guyana, embodied in the Schedule of the Guyana Independence Order, made pursuant to the Guyana Independence Act, 1966.
The Guyana Independence Act was passed on May 12, 1966 and came into force on May 26, 1966. The First sitting of the National Assembly of the First Parliament of Guyana was held on May 26, 1966. While the law enacting Guyana’s Parliament came into force on May 26, 1966, it would be misleading to conclude that Guyana’s Parliamentary system was created at Independence.
In 1831, the three Colonies of Demerara, Essequibo and Berbice were united, and the Colony of British Guiana was formed. From the years 1831 to 1928, the Law-making Body of British Guiana was the Court of Policy. The Court of Policy consisted of the Governor, seven official members, and eight elected members. The Governor presided in the Court of Policy as its President.
In 1928, a new Constitution was introduced and British Guiana became a British Crown Colony. A Legislative Council was established and replaced the Dutch created Court of Policy.
In 1953, a new Constitution was promulgated, and a bicameral legislature, consisting of a State Council and a House of Assembly, was introduced. The State Council consisted of nine members. The House of Assembly consisted of a Speaker, three ex-officio Members, and twenty-four Elected Members. The Speaker was appointed by the governor. A new and separate department, which was called the Office of the Legislature, was established with a Clerk of the Legislature as its head, to serve the new bicameral Legislature. Also in 1953, a Ministerial system of Government and universal adult suffrage were introduced.
The Legislature that came into effect in May 1953 was short-lived as in October 1953, the British suspended the Constitution and an Interim Government was established by the British Guiana (Constitutional) (Temporary Provisions) Order in Council 1953. A Legislative Council consisting of a Speaker, three ex-officio Members and not more than twenty-four Nominated Members was created by this Order on December 22, 1953.
The Speaker, who was not an ex-officio member or nominated member of the Legislative Council, was appointed by the Governor.
In 1956, the British Guiana (Constitutional Temporary Provisions) Order in Council was amended. The Legislative Council appointed under the British Guiana (Constitution Temporary Provisions) Order in Council was dissolved with effect from June 29, 1957.
In 1957, general elections were held, and the PPP, under the leadership of Dr. Cheddi Jagan, won the elections. A second Legislative Council, constituted under the (British Guiana Constitution Temporary Provisions) Orders in Council 1953 and 1956 was appointed. The Legislative Council consisted of the Speaker, three ex–offcio members, fourteen elected members, and eleven nominated members.
In 1961, a new Constitution was established and a bicameral legislature consisting of a Legislative Assembly and a Senate was created. The Senate consisted of thirteen members, who were appointed by the Governor. Of the thirteen members, eight were appointed by the Governor in accordance with the advice of the Premier; three were appointed by the Governor, acting in consultation with such persons as, in his discretion, he considered could have spoken for the political points of view of groups represented in the Legislative Assembly by members constituting the minority, and two were appointed by the Governor acting in his discretion.
The Legislative Assembly consisted of thirty-five members elected under the electoral system of First Past the Post. Elections were held in May 1961, and the Peoples Progressive Party won 21 of the 35 seats in the Legislative Assembly. A Council of Ministers, consisting of a Premier and nine other Ministers was also created. The Council of Ministers had general direction and control of the country, and was collectively responsible to the Legislature.
The Council of Ministers and the Premier were all members of the Legislative Assembly. The Premier was appointed by the Governor as a Member of the Legislative Assembly who was best able to command the confidence of a majority of members of the Legislative Assembly.
Dr. Cheddi Jagan was appointed Guyana’s first Premier on October 6, 1961. Guyana’s Parliament is therefore an emblem of this nation’s freedom from serfdom under colonial rule. Thus, one wonders why our leaders have made this august House a circus, whereby everyone tries to score political points instead of putting it to effective usage of looking after the people’s business, with the good of the nation taking priority over all other considerations.
Whatever the configuration of the 11th Parliament, it is to be hoped that leaders display a level of maturity, and cooperate in the interests of the people who elected them to serve their interests in that assemblage specially designed to discuss and debate policies that will determine a nation’s developmental paradigm and fiscal affairs.
When the PPP/C won the elections in 2011, newly-elected President Donald Ramotar tried everything within his power to run the country with consensual positions, partnering with the Opposition in efforts to heal the nation and create a harmonious ambience for his Government that he hoped would redound to the benefit of the people. However, he was met with strong resistance and lack of co-operation from both the APNU and the AFC.
At every step of the way, he reached out to stakeholders in the land, including the joint Opposition, because he recognised that consensual positions in formulating policy decisions was imperative to nation-building.
It is to be hoped that the 11th Parliament would not replicate the 10th Parliament, in that unnecessary impasses will not be created that consequences impeded economic growth and social development in the nation. The 10th Parliament proved that if the House is divided, the nation suffers.