Dear Editor
A lot has been said about alleged dictatorships, democracy, and by extension decency in Guyana. The old folks say; “the proof of the pudding is in the eating”, for now I refer to two issues which may suggest that this administration is moving away from the cardinal principles that define a truly democratic society.
First is this recent issue surrounding the Honourable Minister Rodrigues, His Excellency the Head of State is satisfied with the Minister’s explanation, and brief statements allegedly made by the minister on this matter, is now of public interest. At this time, I am assuming that Minister Rodrigues is a paragon of virtue and morally straight. However, our Head of State and his Cabinet must recognise that the present environment leads the majority of citizens to believe that corruption at all levels is the order of the day.
It will serve the President and his Cabinet in good stead if the information known to the President and which has caused him to express faith in the minister is in every detail made available to citizens. When we accept high public office, we ought to know that we can not shelter under secrecy nor the right to privacy, that is the price we must pay, or rather the burden we must carry for holding high public office.
For emphasis all relevant information must be made available, so that concerned citizens feel satisfied that everything is above board, particularly since public funds may very well be involved. Was the money acquired from a parent, a spouse, or as a result of some holy or acceptable concubinage?
Beyond all this, if the PPP wishes to make true its talk of transparency they could have engaged the services of the ombudsman.
The second matter is, the fragmentation of one of the pillars of our democracy, that is the parliament. We were told earlier that the speaker, Mr. Manzoor Nadir, was out of the country, he has since returned and is again out at some conference in India.
I have no doubt that his absence would provide the powers that be, another excuse for not summoning the non-government members of parliament to elect a leader of the opposition. This is ludicrous. In the absence of the Speaker, the deputy speaker can perform such functions. But beyond that, the substantive speaker can summon a meeting virtually from wherever he may be. It is now universal practice that decisions by virtual meetings are as binding as face-to-face meetings.
In these two matters, our modern-day oracles must stop treating the public as a bunch of idiots, and remember that the majority of Guyanese are not non compos mentis.
Yours truly,
Elder Hamilton Green
