As the Budget debates in Guyana’s National Assembly enter their second week, Speaker Manzoor Nadir has yet to make a decision on whether to lift the ban on the word “corruption.”
The Clerk of the National Assembly, Sherlock Isaacs, has defended the ban, stating that it aligns with the 19th-century parliamentary guide, Erskine May’s Parliamentary Practice. Originally published in 1844 and last updated in 1976, the book has not been revised in nearly 50 years.
Critics argue that the continued ban on the term hinders candid and effective debates, especially on pressing issues like corruption, which has far-reaching implications for governance and human rights. International bodies such as the United Nations, the International Labour Organisation, and the World Bank have all highlighted the importance of addressing corruption for the promotion of good governance.
The issue was recently raised by Opposition Member of Parliament, Amanza Walton-Desir, who has called for lifting the ban in line with the people’s constitutional right to free speech under Article 9 of Guyana’s Constitution. Walton-Desir emphasised that corruption remains central to addressing the systemic issues that erode public trust and governance in the country.
With Guyana’s poor ranking on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, critics of the current administration argue that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) government, led by both Bharrat Jagdeo and Irfaan Ali, has failed to meaningfully address corruption despite repeated promises of reform.
As Walton-Desir said “Banning the word does not make the problem go away. Instead, it creates the illusion that we are more concerned with appearances than action.” The move by Walton-Desir, subsequently supported by Government Minister Gail Teixeira, would be seen as moving Guyana’s parliament into the 21st century.
As the debate continues, some proponents suggest that if Erskine May were to update its Parliamentary Principles today, it would likely allow for the use of the word “corruption,” given its significance in contemporary discussions about human rights and development.
