Dear Editor,
I write to condemn the Parliament Speaker’s attacks on Mr. Azruddin Mohamed and threat to censure the Opposition Leader – take him to the Privilege Committee. The attacks represent such an astonishing threat to the foundation of our parliamentary democracy and to free speech that diplomats and lawyers have spoken out against him.
Imagine the speaker did not call parliament to elect the Opposition Leader. Then the Speaker launched an attack against an elected MP, the leader of the main opposition party, outside of parliament – how then can he be fair and impartial on the Speaker’s Chair? The Speaker had a grouse against Azruddin who in turn exposed his connection to alleged corrupt act linked to the son of a sitting MP who is also a Minister. The Speaker delayed parliamentary sitting to choose the Opposition Leader and then threatened the Opposition Leader with suspension. Is that democracy at play?
MPs should feel empowered to speak in and outside of parliament. If they have evidence that the Speaker or any Minister was facilitating unlawful activities, they have a right to speak out. Why was the Speaker keeping high end vehicles for a sibling of a minister of government who is also a MP?
The Speaker’s comments against Azruddin bring discredit upon himself and the august parliament. They are prejudicial, lack good order, and amounts to “conduct unbecoming of an officer” of any parliament. The antics of the Speaker are so unparliamentary that King George would be tickled. The Speaker should do the honorable thing and … . In any other parliamentary democracy, the Speaker will resign.
The Speaker demonstrated loyalty not to parliament and to freedom of speech but apparently to someone else. Is it the leader of the PPP? When politics and political discourse are dominated by voices loyal to another person, presumably the leadership of the governing party, rather than to principles and laws, critical conversations are gagged. Isn’t it backwards that MPs are only tolerated if they are liked by the leader as shown through the speeches and acts of the Speaker. Freedom of speech that Guyanese, including the Speaker, fought for only applies if the leader likes what he has to say. The current leader of the ruling party and the President did not fight for democracy in Guyana; the leader was in Moscow and the President was a ‘lil boy’ when others was fighting for democracy.
When MPs speak, they do so through lived experiences. Shouldn’t the opposition get to weigh in on corruption and what the Speaker does outside of parliament?
Speech cannot be free if it is disallowed in and outside of parliament. Several people put their lives on the line to defend free speech, to combat authoritarianism, and to protect freedoms guaranteed the in the constitution. How does Rohee, Ramotar, Ramkarran, all of who fought authoritarianism, and others feel now that free speech is muzzled? Ramkarran was Speaker – how does he feel about how the parliament is run? If the Speaker and if the government, through its trolls, can muzzle heroes against authoritarian rule and MPs, then we are under threat of becoming a full-fledged dictatorship as experienced between 1966 and 1992. Ironically, the solemn oaths taken as MPs to serve nation and constituents also become meaningless if they can’t speak freely.
The public value their freedoms. Champions of democracy are risking their reputations and benefits every day to speak out against corruption and abuse of power. The fact that diplomats spoke up against abuse of power underscores the salience of this moment; their actions reveal how grave the danger is against free speech and democracy. Diplomats and others came out against the government for unjustly punishing a person who won his position as Opposition Leader in elections. And unfortunately, as happened to several good people, those who spoke out against the government and the Speaker run the risk of bringing unjust punishments upon themselves. The leader of the PPP and the President are unforgiving; the ABCE countries should take note. We salute those who speak out against authoritarianism; their statements are a remarkable act of bravery. In doing so, they stand as guardians of our freedoms and democracy.
I hold no brief for Azruddin. But we must stand in defense of his right to serve as Opposition Leader having democratically won the position and in defense of others who have condemned the government’s actions. As the Speaker and his bosses attempt to suppress the voices of the champions of democracy, the public must make a greater effort to resist traces of authoritarian rule. We all must give support to those fighting for us against the corrupt and abusers of power.
Yours truly,
Nigel Pilgrim
