President Irfaan Ali today administered the oath of office to the seven-member Teaching Service Commission, despite the ongoing absence of a Leader of the Opposition. The move has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), which described it as a sign of growing constitutional disregard by the Government.
Under Article 207 of the Constitution, the Commission should include seven members, with three appointed by the President after meaningful consultation with the Leader of the Opposition. Article 207 (d) expressly states, “three persons appointed by the President after meaningful consultation with the Leader of the Opposition.”
Since the 13th Parliament convened on November 3, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP)-elected Speaker, Manzoor Nadir, has refused to convene a meeting of non-government Members of Parliament to elect an Opposition Leader under Article 184(1), leaving the country without a fully constituted Assembly.
In his remarks to the new Commissioners, President Ali said the establishment of the Commission was necessary, even without the required consultation.
“It is an important constitutional responsibility that has to be executed. The minister came to me and explained the importance for the system itself, and I don’t want a new term to start without having the commission in place to make important decisions that would allow the quality of teaching to improve, and also allow more opportunities to be given to our teachers,” the President said.
He added that he will fulfill his constitutional duty once an Opposition Leader is elected, but stressed that government work must continue regardless. He also noted that there are 2,700 senior vacancies in schools nationwide.
The appointees sworn in today are Chief Education Officer Saddam Hussain, Doodmattie Singh, Shafiran Bhajan, Joan Davis-Monkhouse, Lancelot Baptiste, Satti Jaisieriisingh, and Mayda Persaud.
APNU spokesperson Ganesh Mahipaul criticised the process, calling it a violation of constitutional norms.
“Clearly, President Irfaan Ali will claim that there is no Leader of the Opposition. However, the absence of a Leader of the Opposition is not the fault of the 29 Opposition Members of Parliament. It is the direct consequence of the actions of the Speaker of the National Assembly, himself the choice of the Irfaan Ali administration,” Mahipaul said.
“This is precisely the kind of constitutional erosion we in the APNU have been warning about. A maturing dictatorship unfolding before our eyes, fed and sustained by none other than President Irfaan Ali. The PPP/C continues to distract the country and the international community with optics, while simultaneously showing disrespect for, and disregard of, the constitutional guardrails of our democracy. What is even more troubling is the silence of the international community, which is too often seen wining and dining within the very optic illusion created for them. Sad Guyana,” he added.
