By GHK Lall- It is a reflection of the slowly accelerating rot that has taken over Guyanese life. When the highest, most sacred, most inviolable House in Guyana is reduced by the conduct of its members to a house of ill-repute, there is the first confirmation. Parliament profaned. Parliament now a hot hotbed of menacing body language and verbiage, with threats to complete that revolting picture. What quality of debate in such an environment? Where is the heavy hand, the keen eye, the decisive power of the Hon. Speaker of the National Assembly, when such are most needed, would have the greatest utility?
And what of the moral and ethical certitude of honorable members from every side, particularly the PPP Govt’s side, to call wayward and riotous colleagues to show some discipline? To manifest some respect for Guyanese, who are responsible for them being in that once pristine environment in the first place. Politicians love to sell a farce: the children are the wave of future, the foundations of national destiny. I assert that it is a farce, a shabby vulgarity, when the obscene plays out repeatedly in the house of the people, the arena to which the children should aspire.
When the gladiators embroiled in combat are laced through with foul words and fouler threats, those are what adults and children see and hear. Some adults may have been conditioned by life with a tough skin, which makes them better equipped to absorb the obscenities that seep out of parliament. Nay, not seep out, but gush out. But what about the fate of the children, when the standards of those who are supposed to be their role models, their heroes, are so grimy, so sleazy?
It shouldn’t surprise that there is so much vile bullyism dotting Guyana’s schools, and outside of those once safe havens. It shouldn’t upset that Guyanese are ready to settle differences, with the abusive in homes, and outrage in the streets. Road rage. Domestic violence. Children taking out their bile and malice and mischiefs on other children, weaker ones. It was the most opportune time for domestic violence warrior, Minister of Human Services, Dr. Vindya Persaud, to raise her voice against, stand against. What better manner for the new Minister of Education, Mme. Sonia Parag, to say not here, not now, not ever.
Both fine daughters of Guyana had to have the courage, the personal standards, to rise against the tide, raise a hand, and insist: not us, not one of us; let that be the culture of those across the aisle. The political opposition, in combination or apart, also had to make its voice heard, take a stand against any further dissipation of Guyana’s last house standing. If not the National Assembly of Guyana, then where in Guyana? Speaker Nadir had to be the first out of the block: not on my watch, none of this will be tolerated in this hallowed space, regardless of who is the contributor.
If the respective parliamentary leaders are not strong enough, cannot rein their comrades in, the Speaker should be the one to throw down the gauntlet. Proceed at peril. If the president is neither engaged enough nor angry enough (nor disturbed enough), then into Speaker Manzoor Nadir’s hands falls that difficult task. It could be a fine hour for him; one that launches him into the pantheon of Speakers who are spoken of with respect; notwithstanding his terrible failures of judgment, of what I interpret to be the rankest sort of unfairness.
Perhaps, what has emerged out of this parliament, in what were supposed to be the give-and-take of a budget debate, should be made mandatory reading in the Civics texts of which so much was heard from His Excellency, Dr. Irfaan Ali. Parliament is an arena usually soaked in disagreement. When done right-with courtesies observed, received, and delivered-there is hope for a still better quality of discourse on the national affairs that induce such intense passions. Parliament has its rules and privileges, and the Speaker should be man enough to wield those as a matter of routine.
And as a mace that compels compliance. If there is genuine interest in a better Guyana, and universal willingness to make that a reality, then parliament is the place to start. Parliament must be that cathedral to which all Guyanese lift their eyes, and before which they worship, when the level of conduct within so justifies. It hasn’t been. By God! It hasn’t been. Yes, I swore. I regret that wrathful expression of disgust, of dismissal
