IT is time Guyana experiences the efficiency and effectiveness of the three branches of Government made up of the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary. To emphasise that aspiration, an outline of the independence of the United States of America, its achievement of democracy and the just practices of the rule-of-law intrinsically can provide beneficial guidance for developing States to emerge with less tension and dissatisfaction.

Guyana, next year, will be a country of fifty years of independence. During that period, our Guyanese nation has been supported with profound opportunities through international relations to develop possessed potentials of intellectual, material, financial and spiritual capacities favourably inherited from British Colonial Rule. Such could have been destroyed, perhaps to non-existence as a country, by impact of neighbouring enmity.

Pertinent to the doctrine enshrined in constitutional provisions for separation of powers, Guyana today can yet rely obligatorily on international gratifications to secure our nationhood [near and far].
Editor, the civil wars that commenced the USA’s emergence to independence were chronicled into legal perspectives in a document crafted as the ‘Stuben Manual’ by the military General of that fighting era, internally and externally, for an independent America.
This manual was popularly known in American history as the ‘Military Bible’, and from it the ‘Articles of Confederation’ were integument for governance in that period of the history of the USA, which was redefined and rewritten as the first American ‘Constitution’.
My allusion to this American scenario is intended to highlight the fact that any country that patterns in part or in full, any aspect of democracy in the USA by constitutional provisions, those nations are apt to benefit from extracts of American history.
Essentially, therefore, the ‘rights’ of the people can be deemed universal to any extent that dictatorships do not trample on those entitlements/empowerments.

To capture that understanding of international rights and responsibilities, a modern-day Ex-American President, an honourable man, Mr. Bill Clinton oftentimes introduces his conversations, reminding that the Constitution of America has inscribed the preamble, ‘We The People’ which meaningfully means Americans are separate groups of individuals who must be given ‘equal rights’ and treatment under the Law.
A distinguished republican judicial authority on the Supreme Court of America [Black] Justice, Clarence Thomas, as an opinion he wrote in a landmark case which dealt with LGBT legislation, emphasised the requirement that while exceptional accommodation may be given for particular groups of persons by State Statutes, the fundamental RIGHTS of all persons must be preserved as Americans in accordance with Constitutional Law.
Clearly, my dear readers, by just these references, the intent and application of political authority in America unanimously distinguishes the realities of Separation of Powers, namely: the Executive cannot overreach to the Legislature that is not authorised to overlap into the Judiciary.

In such circumstances, Ex-President Donald Ramotar may be considered to have lost the authority to serve an extended term in office due to his executive overreach and denial of the legislature, compounded by manipulation of the judiciary in Guyana; just to cite two aspects:
(1) If a Minister is ruled a ‘no confidence’ and thereafter the Government is tasked with defending itself against ‘no confidence’, just do something about it and face it, so that the chips can fall where they may. If it is ducked, it may never be found ever.
(2) Don’t keep the judiciary prolonged with acting appointments, not enough trial officials (Justices and Judges). Only go to Court when absolutely necessary; uphold judicial rulings, then once and far appeal, if a greater benefit is at stake. Always pay good money to get and keep backlog of cases up-to-date — extend Court hours, night court(s) a plus!.

Editor, now for the caution statements:
The new Government must recognise that its accomplishment of office is not primarily political work. My candid view is that the Peoples’ victory, in that context, is a culmination of [a] sustained opposition pressure over 23 years, [b] political activism by groups and individuals,
[c] media exposure of governmental irregularities along with pointed letter-writing craftiness, [d] the populace latched on to those disclosures and cried ‘foul’, [e] mobilisation through disgust of families and friends, [f] the vote on ‘E’ day in small part to create a victory for APNU+AFC in the General and Regional Elections.
Those contributions altruistically should be appreciated by deserving appointments to some competent officials, suggestively:
* Dr. R. Van West Charles, Executive Advisor to H.E on democracy and health advancement strategies;
* Dr. D. Hinds, Advisor on international political relations;
* Dr. C. Thomas, Executive Chairman of the NIS and all Boards mandates;
* Mr. T. Viera, Advisor on industries capitalisation and management;
* Major General (rtd) J. Singh, Advisor on communications and environmental management;
* Mr. R. Lucas, Advisor on trade, tourism and financial evaluations;
* Major General (rtd) M. Atherley, CEO and exclusive administrator for all extractive industries;
* Mr. C. Hinds, Consultant of Gov’t national political relations;
* Mr. A. Harris, Advisor on media improvement tech. & relations;
* Mr. A. Christiani, Consultant of Gov. for Foreign/national projects inputs coordination;
* Mr. R. H.O. Corbin, Exec. Advisor to H.E the President on international development strategies.

Most, if not all, workers should not benefit from ‘two-sweet-out-of-one-fat’; others await fair-play.
Most, if not all, such appointments can be ‘at large’ for compensatory roles and regulations to be determined. Others, including relevant governmental requirements may be directed by His Excellency as in-office or for feasible options.
Editor, conclusively, when authority is effectively streamlined making fair and adequate use of the nation’s own intellectual capital; supplementations of foreign support best achieves viable economic returns and prioritisation. These appointments must be made public!
Government for and by the People speaks to such realities if governance is to be just and all-inclusive with little or no prejudices, preferences and deprivation of the national ‘PIE’ – for some. It is time!

ARNOLD W. CHRISTIANI