With almost three months since the convening of the 13th Parliament on November 3, last year, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) Member of Parliament (MP), Dr. David Hinds is again criticising what he describes as an archaic system, which encourages a lack of separation of powers and allows the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) administration control of the legislative arm of government. Dr. Hinds said with the current state of affairs, there are no “checks and balances” in the system.
His criticisms come in the wake of the continued delay to the sitting of the National Assembly. “Something is wrong with a system where the legislative branch is controlled by the party that controls the executive branch. Basically, parliament is run by the government.
So there is no separation of powers, no checks and balances and the parliament has to remain shut down because the government wants it shut down. It’s an archaic system and I think a lot of energy should be put there,” Dr. Hinds relayed recently on “ MP mornings on KAMS TV.”
Dr. Hinds, who is also co-leader of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), said while lot of emphasis is being placed on the fact that an opposition leader has not been duly elected, the situation is only a consequence of the existing problem. “The real cause of the problem is the lack of the separation of powers, the tremendous power that is in the hands of the executive branch that has to be taken away.”
He said further, “It’s really a shame that going on to five months after the elections parliament met once, and that was more ceremonial than anything else. The parliament has not gotten down to any work because clearly, the executive branch doesn’t want it to work. That’s where the problem is.” He cited the system in the United States, where the President has no control of Congress. Dr. Hinds said it is Congress that decides when it meets, and when elections are held. “ That is not determined by the executive branch,” he emphasised.
The politician’s concern was recently echoed by diplomatic representatives of the United States, Canada and the European Union, who all weighed in on the need for the sitting of parliament and the immediate election of an opposition leader.
President Irfaan Ali last weekend denied that the government is stalling the reconvening of parliament to prevent presumptive opposition leader, Azzrudin Mohamed from being sworn in. He told reporters that his government’s focus now is working on the budget.
“As head of the Executive arm of government that is my focus right now. At the appropriate time of course we will lay out our parliamentary agenda and head to parliament to get that agenda completed,” Ali stated.
Dr. Hinds had stated that the PPP government is usually known only to act when pressured by international forces and massive local protests. He said he waits to see what will be done by the government following the widespread rebuke by the ABCEU countries. (Release).
