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The Opposition’s visit last week to the Washington D.C to meet with Democratic House Leader and Members of the Congressional Black Caucus, along with the two-day Conference on Guyana, which was also held in Washington has re-ignited conversations on inclusionary democracy which the Guyana Trades Union Congress fervently believes in.
Article 13 of the Constitution of Guyana expressly states:
“The principal objective of the system of the State is to establish an inclusionary democracy by providing increasing opportunities for the participation of citizens, and their organisations in the management and decision-making processes of the State, with particular emphasis on those areas of decision-making that directly affect their well-being.”
Guyana, as a nation, emerged from an ethnic history of divide and rule. Race was, and continues to be pitted against race, which remains counterproductive to the social, cultural, economic and political environment. The framers of the Constitution, in principle, sought to address this birth defect through forging a political system built on “inclusionary democracy.”
Should “inclusionary democracy” be practiced, Guyana stands to benefit from political cooperation. Such cooperation, most importantly, would recognise that whereas historically voting patterns have been along racial line, the constitutional right to freely so associate also protects the right not to be discriminated against based on race (Articles 147 and 149).
GTUC believes, forging Guyana’s motto of ‘One People, One Nation, One Destiny,’ requires frank, honest and open conversations on race/ethnicity move beyond that to creating and enforcing systems to make meaningful the nation’s aspiration through:- legislation to give meaning to Article 13, establishment of all Rights Commission, particularly the Human Rights Commission to safeguard and deepen the ‘Protection of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual’ as outlined in Title 1 of the Constitution.
GTUC is calling on the politicians to devolve power to the people at the grassroots by passing legislation to give effect to constitutional Articles 75 and 76 which are intended to safeguard independent government at the regional and local levels. There is also the call for amendment to legislation that would see the Appropriation Bill (National Budget) not passed in the National Assembly by less than 60 percent of the elected Members, which will necessitate inclusionary democracy and cooperation across the political aisles.
