Dear Editor,
The United Negro College Fund was setup to provide financial and technical assistance to minority groups in 1972 has a marquee slogan that “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.” It underscores the importance of utilizing educational opportunities and intelligence. The speaker of the National Assembly’s recent denial to seat then presumptive and now Leader of the Opposition Hon. Azharuddin Mohammed MP does not portray intelligence nor sound mental acumen in delaying the election of the August position for 84 days. This conundrum has angered the political pundits and sets the precedence for illegality and undemocratic norms.
Article 184 (1) of the constitution states “The Leader of the Opposition shall be elected by and from among the non-governmental members of the National Assembly at a meeting held under the chairmanship of the Speaker of the National Assembly, who shall not have the right to vote.” This article, enshrined in our nation’s most sacred document, assures us that in a burgeoning democracy, having a functional opposition is of the utmost importance.
While the government’s excuse that a timeline has not been specified, it is a great travesty that the International Community had to nudge them, thus the speaker conceding to allow the process to move forward. Various absurd revelations about the speaker’s unavailability due to travel are unacceptable because the constitution provides for an acting Speaker to take the reins in event of the speaker falling ill or being overseas on national duty. Then came a 15-minute rant by the Speaker articulating sweet nothings and attacking members of the diplomatic community of whom he had to meet shortly.
The country will not forget the administration track record of insulting the international community such as the “feral blast” of 2014 by then Minister of Education towards the Former Ambassador of United States and a sharp rebuke by the Former Minister of Home Affairs to the Former British High Commissioner points to a pattern of insincerity and diplomatic unsuitability that runs contrary to their self-proclaim democratic norms. By these actions, Guyanese are now living in an era of victimisation.
These acts purported by the current administration is distasteful, repressive, and uncouth for an administration that claims to be “the most democratic administration in the country’s history.” If the President’s sanctimonious utterance had been correct, it would not have attracted the concern of foreign ambassador pushing the administration to administer elections for the leader of the opposition.
This situation has highlighted need for cognitive tests of our politicians, which will ensure that the speaker has not lost his marbles. The government should be wary that these actions of circumventing the constitutional mandates has short- and long-term consequences as it will drive the masses to civil disobedience and has a lasting imprint on the minds of the Guyanese as 2030 elections draw nigh.
Yours truly
Collin Haynes MPH MBA
