PHOTO: “PARLIAMENT IN THE REPUBLIC OF GUYANA, Raphael Trotman, SECOND Edition.”
This is a FIRST IN CLASS BOOK. There is no other publication that has all the information about Guyana’s parliamentary system. 342 Pages: SOFT COVER Book is available at Austin’s Bookstore, Church Street, Georgetown, GUYANA , Price is GY $8,375. “KINDLE eBook from Amazon USD $9.99.”
BOOK REVIEW by GHK Lall.
“PARLIAMENT IN THE REPUBLIC OF GUYANA, Raphael Trotman, SECOND Edition.”
Parliament in the Republic of Guyana is an impressive read, and an outstanding effort put forward by former Speak of the National Assembly, Mr. Raphael G. C. Trotman in this second edition.
It is a bona fide historical treat for students, citizens, and those who are avid readers of events, personalities, contributors, and luminous figures in Guyana’s rollercoaster relationship with democracy. There is a cascade of names, facts, high points, low points, and other points in the rollcall of the years that retrace steps way back in time. The mists can be peered through with greater ease, for there is greater clarity in this well-laid out writing. It is captivating for long stretches of the 342 pages of this tome, dense on occasion, but always gripping in the hold that it has on readers. There is plenty to absorb, much more to reminisce about over the years of struggle in Guyana to get to where the standards are today.
There is what should bind readers, keep them in thrall, with clear and crisp prose that is intriguing as well as compelling. In its 342 pages, Parliament in the Republic of Guyana furnishes one a nd all, from the casual to the serious reader, with an education in centuries of local history. From the physical attributes of the meeting place for the making of laws, to the presentation of national financial plans (budgets), to the architectural elegance of layout and setting, to the throes that lawmaking can sometimes be, to the clashing arts of politics, this book has it all, says it all. It possesses the singular distinction of probably not being challenged and bettered for a while to come.
The reader could thrill to a pictorial tour, a smooth moving effort that covers many years and much ground and holds in a close embrace. This is an elemental part of Guyana’s history, the Guyana story. Smooth chronological order, meticulous compilation of a swift moving train of events of deep historical significance. A real primer for students at many levels, as a reference tool, and for familiarity and immersion in the many contours of parliamentary democracy through its many trials and traumas, its not so frequent moments of consensus and cooperation. The figures that are heroes to some and villains to others are walked with, understood a little bit more, come to life in ways more human, and in a manner that garners greater comprehension, if not some degree of sympathy.
There is painstaking attention to detail. Tremendous historical content that reads with the ease of a well-written, fast-moving novel. By the end of this book, there is sure to be clearer and greater understanding and appreciation for what goes into lawmaking, the work of the National Assembly. And how the intricate mechanism of parliamentary democracy, the Guyana version, hums and purrs, and sometimes grind to a halt. Long segments introduce the reader to the world of Motions and Petitions, of the Constitution and No Confidence Motion, of mischief with the mace, to the mayhem that can accompany debates about money, and other matters of national importance.
The eloquence is simple but stirring, with subtle comments on the powers of the executive president, paramountcy of the party, critical support, the political wilderness years of Cheddi Jagan and the PPP. The memory lane of the dubious roles of world powers is visited and fleshed out, along with the devastations wreaked on a society that is now still polarized beyond repair. If there is one criticism that is justified is that the choice of words is often too subdued, with the obvious objectives of not tampering with old scars never less than raw (and running), and to avoid the polemics of sharper language that would do more harm than good.
Many of the storied names of Guyanese political legend, trade union lore, and legal acumen are given prominence. For others, it would represent a reunion with some of the illustrious figures from Guyana’s past. Another shortfall that is certain to attract critical scrutiny is the very tactful coverage of the disputed elections during the period 1966-1992 under the helmsmanship of Forbes Burnham, and his PNC. The sense is of caution to a fault, a reluctance to pander to emotions and passions that are always lurking just below the surface in divided Guyana. The same could be said in the treatment of the No Confidence Motion of December 21, 2018, that upended Guyana’s parliament, the nation’s politics, and the relationship between the adversarial political groups.
An abundance of enriching extracts from the Constitution of Guyana, court proceedings, and parliamentary records substantiate the many areas of discussion, the various points made. If anything, there is a Constitutional underpinning for just about every area ventured into, the known and unknown corners unraveled. A strong point of this extensive work on parliament is the liberal, if not prodigious, extracts from, and references to, the Constitution to buttress a point or issue being presented and expanded. The unrelating diet of Constitution fare can be numbing for some.
The pioneering women of Guyana come In for honorable mention, with satisfying space dedicated to their presence, their contributions, and their grueling journey to get to where they are today. In this education in parliamentary democracy in action, notwithstanding its many challenges and flaws, Guyanese now have an invaluable resource at their fingertips. It is one that should be easy to understand, easier to use, and easiest to employ to burnish or bolster some argument being made, or strong position taken. This is a significant contribution to the literature of politics in Guyana, to the figures and years and protocols of Guyana’s premier institution for the development, refinement, and finalization of the laws that serve the interests of the people of this still young, still learning, nation.
Parliament in the Republic of Guyana is a yeoman work laced with grace and delicacy. It is in consonance with the dignity of the subject, the hallowed National Assembly of Guyana, and the Guyanese people.
NORWAY, Sovereign Wealth Fund
The World’s largest sovereign wealth fund posts record $213 billion profit, boosted by tech stocks World’s largest sovereign wealth fund posts record $213 billion profit, boosted by tech stocks.
Norway’s giant sovereign wealth fund on Tuesday reported record profit of 2.22 trillion kroner ($213 billion) in 2023, supported by robust returns on its investments in technology stocks.
“Despite high inflation and geopolitical turmoil, the equity market in 2023 was very strong, compared to a weak year in 2022,” said Nicolai Tangen, chief executive of Norges Bank Investment Management.
It follows a record loss of 1.64 trillion Norwegian kroner for the whole of 2022, which the fund attributed to “very unusual” market conditions at the time.
“ Norway’s giant sovereign wealth fund on Tuesday reported record profit of 2.22 trillion kroner ($213 billion) in 2023, supported by robust returns on its investments in technology stocks.
The Government Pension Fund Global, one of the world’s largest investors, said the result marked its highest return in kroner ever, with the fund’s return on investment last year coming in at 16.1% for the year.
10 Principles of POWER
- To Keep the END in SIGHT
- To COLLABORATE
- To be SERVANT LEADER
- To CHART A COURSE
- To REINVENT SELF
- To HELP OTHERS to ACHIEVE
- To TAKE the INITIATIVE
- To LOVE to LEARN
- To FIGHT FOR A GOOD CAUSE
- To BE CHANGE AGENTS
13 Differences between MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP.
- MANAGEMENT and LEADERSHIP must go hand in hand. They ARE NOT the same. BUT they are NECESSARILY LINKED.
MANAGER LEADER
- Administers Innovates
- Is a COPY Is an ORIGINAL
- Maintains Develops
- Focuses on Systems & Structure Focuses on PEOPLE
- Relies on CONTROL Inspires TRUST
- Has a short-range view Has a long-range perspective
- Asks HOW & WHEN ? Asks WHAT & WHY?
- Eye on BOTTOM LINE Eye on THE HORIZON
- IMITATES ORIGINATES
- Accepts the status quo Challenges the status quo
- The classic Good Soldier His or Her OWN Person
- Does THINGS RIGHT Does the RIGHT THING
GUYANA’s TOP 5 POLITICAL & LEGAL LIVING HEROES and ELDERS.
- Former 4th. Prime Minister & Former Vice President Hon. Hamilton Bilal Green, O.R.,CCH, JP., COA.
- Former Ambassador Oscar Clarke, CCH
- Former Ambassador & Minister Charles Rohee
- Former Speaker of Parliament Ralph Ramkarran, Esq. SC.
- Former High Court Judge, Justice Donald Ashley Bevil Trotman Esq., CCH.,
GUYANA’s 2 Political GIANTS, FOUNDERS and HEROES
- His Excellency Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, Esq. SC, OE
- His Excellency Dr. Cheddi Bharrat Jagan, DDS.
Dr. Cheddi Jagan and Mrs. Janet Jagan by 1950 had both become active in politics, and during that year they joined with Linden Forbes Burnham to found the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), with a goal of gaining independence for the colony (which it achieved in 1966)
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Janet-Jagan
Photo: L to R: His Excellency Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham, Esq. SC, OE, Young Joey Jagan and His Excellency Dr. Cheddi Bharrat Jagan, DDS
PHOTO: Guyana 34 Minerals and an Abundance of WATER. KUWAIT.
2016 PHOTO: Show, Tell & Know GUYANA for Investments and Tourism in KUWAIT. Photo, was Created and Published by the Allys at the Guyana Embassy in Kuwait. A LIST of ALMIGHTY’S BLESSINGS of RESOURCES’ ASSETS, for the BENEFIT of ALL Guyanese in Guyana and the Diaspora.
QUOTE: Late Robert Greenleaf, the FOUNDER of the SERVANT LEADERSHIP MOVEMENT, said “ Nothing much happens without a DREAM. For something REALLY GREAT to happen, it takes a really GREAT DREAM.”
PHOTO: BOOK : Dr. BAYTORAM RAMHARACK “ A POWERFUL INDIAN VOICE ALICE BHAGWANDAI SINGH: Reflections of Her Work in Guyana.” At AMAZON, KINDLE USD $3.99, and PAPERBACK USD $23.99.
Prof. Dr. Baytoram Ramharack teaches history and politics at Nassau Community College. His SOON NEW book, “One, One Dutty Build a Village in Guyana: The story of Hari Prashad and Prashad Nagar, is forthcoming.”
Dr. Baytoram Ramharack was born in Berbice, Guyana. He completed his BA in political science at CUNY’s City College, NY. He received both his MA and PhD degrees from New York University. He has taught political science at New York University, Dowling College and at Nassau Community College in New York, where he is currently an Adjunct Associate Professor of Political Science.
Authoritative HISTORY for “AAPAN JAAT”, beginning:
February 16, 2024, LFSB Foundation Annual Commemorative Symposium, Critchlow Labor College: QUOTE from His Excellency Hon. Hamilton Bilal Green, O.R.,CCH, JP, COA, said it is, “ DANIEL PRABOODAS DEBUDIN, Solicitor”, who SAID to VOTE “ AAPAN JAAT.” This is HOW it started.
https://m.facebook.com/video.php/?video_id=785128483484462
Onward & Upward towards, One People, One Nation, One Destiny
