Latest update March 28th, 2024 12:59 AM
Mar 03, 2013 News
“Every project undergone by this administration is top-secret and that shows contempt against the people.”
By Abena Rockcliffe
After a year and a few months as a Member of Parliament, A Partnership for National Unity (APNU)’s Jaipaul Sharma, still believes that one discerning voice can make a difference.
With a financial background, Sharma also sits as a member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) – a parliamentary committee mandated to scrutinise the Auditor General’s report.
Before becoming a parliamentarian, Sharma served the public while being employed at the Auditor General’s Office, Public Service Ministry, Labour Ministry, Region six, Regional Democratic Council and the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM).
In an exclusive interview with Kaieteur News, Sharma said that he has found his recently begun journey along the parliamentary road to be an interesting one.
“It is interesting to see how petty politicians can be; their lack of vision and more so lack of understanding of the constitution is almost too hard to believe.”
While admitting that he is not yet a seasoned politician, Sharma said that he feels a great sense of pride by being an assigned member of the PAC with the “top guns” of the government.
The PAC comprises eight members – the opposition has four representing members and the same for the government – and a chairman.
Sharma emphasised his point that the opposition was confident enough to send its “backbenchers” while the government “sent its party hierarchy… look at it, the only extremely experienced Parliamentarian on the opposition’s side is Volda Lawrence, while the PPP sent all its presidential advisors and past ministers.”
He said that nevertheless, he feels “at home” being a member of the PAC, simply because it is his field.
The former GECOM employee said that it is his earnest view that the committee is doing a good job, however, he recommended more vibrancy and for the PAC to move away from the old way of asking questions.
“I appeared before the PAC before and I know that the simplest thing to answer is those yes or no questions, you don’t get down to the bottom of things that way. And another thing is that the members on the government’s side need to stop answering questions posed to the persons before the committee. They need to be natural.”
Sharma disclosed that his responsibility as a sitting Member of Parliament lies with Region Four, but he chooses not to limit himself outside the realm of parliament. The opposition member said that persons would approach him with numerous queries “and it is fulfilling to know that you can help.”
He cited as an example that there were lots of instances subsequent to the budget cuts last year that “persons come up to me and ask what we (the opposition) are really doing, because we cut the money that would have gone towards roads. And I had to explain to them… show them what we really did cut and tell them the reasons why.”
Sharma stressed that it is still vested in him to make a difference.
Asked about the fact that he is not otherwise employed, Sharma said that he chose this course so as not to compromise his position as a Member of Parliament.
“I don’t ask favours and don’t like people asking me favours.”
Waste of taxpayers’ money or democracy?
The last three parliamentary sittings each saw a walkout being staged. The first was staged by the government, then the opposition, and at the last sitting, the Speaker.
During the interview with Sharma, reference was made to the fact that it costs the country almost two million dollars to facilitate each sitting and despite knowing this, politicians seem to insist on staging walkouts.
Sharma was asked if he sees the walkouts and abrupt adjournments as a waste of taxpayers’ money, but responded in the negative.
“The public and the media must have its own view on that; but, the truth is those are the prices you pay for democracy…and parliamentary democracy must live.”
The parliamentarian dubbed the money received by him and colleagues, on a monthly basis, a stipend. According to Sharma, members of parliament are supposed to receive a salary but “if it was a salary we should have been receiving vacation allowances… they only say it is a salary.”
Sharma opined that allowances need to be urgently addressed
He advocated for parliamentarians to be paid enough so that they don’t have to be “gainfully” employed at any other entity “otherwise employment leaves more room for the member to be compromised. “
But more importantly, in his eyes, Sharma thinks that the opposition’s shadow ministers should be given benefits like those of a minister.
He noted that the government has 20 ministerial positions, including those of ministers within respective ministries.
“But, the opposition, at least for the APNU, has narrowed it down to just 10 ministers and those persons deserve way more than they get… and I am not talking about just finances.”
He opined that shadow ministers should have a team of persons available to them to assist them. “Remember these people are legislators, they are supposed to have personnel to assist them in analyzing Bills, and they should have draftsmen and all these things. But that is not happening and it is all part of a way to stifle the opposition.”
View of the government
Sharma insisted that the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) administration, “both the Jagdeo and Ramotar regime, disrespect the people by the way they act when questioned upon matters of accountability, accuracy, transparency and corruption at all levels.”
“Every project undergone by this administration is top-secret and that shows contempt against the people. Look at the Marriott, up to now the Guyanese people can’t get the truth about this project; everyday you hear a new scenario. Then there is the CCTV saga and like the Marriott, each day is a different camouflage… the one from the Prime Minister being the most accepted.”
Sharma opined that the PPP administration is seeking to confuse the people of Guyana, “it is a tactic, if you can’t convince the people, then you confuse the people… and they try to confuse the people so much that they start to confuse themselves.”
He asserted that the aforementioned spells weakness on the part of the government. “They are weak; they have weak planning and they are not strong enough to make a stance and don’t budge.”
“Another point that is needed to be made is that these people have a problem interpreting the Constitution.”
Sharma pointed out that “Article 22 (dealing with the right and duty to work) and article 149A (speaking about protection from discrimination) of the Constitution, address the excuses put forward by the government to cover this Marriott business.”
“The PPP conveniently selects sections of the Constitution to suit their cause and that can be understood as them blatantly misrepresenting the Constitution just to favour their various arguments. Just like when they speak about NICIL’s right to keep their money but they don’t include the fact that NICIL, upon the request of the National Assembly, also has a right to deposit its funds into the Consolidated Fund.”
“I believe in the constitution and that it is the supreme law, it is not to be misrepresented.”
Representation
Sharma reflected that parliament is not running the way it should be as “members represent their political parties as opposed to representing their constituencies; and that’s why the stand-off between the parties exists and why the government doesn’t support opposition Bills and Motions. So, unless the constituency becomes the priority, we will remain where we are.”
In commenting on the recent hot button issue of a No Confidence Motion against one of the members, Sharma is of the opinion that the drafters of the Constitution were “wise enough to be silent on such motions, because they considered that being detailed might have resulted in abuse – like the saying goes- the devil is in the detail.
But had I been in that position, I would have done the honourable thing and resigned. I don’t believe in fighting to be where you are not wanted, but I do believe in fighting to make a difference. “
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
Mar 28, 2024
Minister Ramson challenge athletes to better last year’s performance By Rawle Toney Kaieteur Sports – Guyana’s 23-member contingent for the CARIFTA Games in Grenada is set to depart the...B.V. Police Station Kaieteur News – The Beterverwagting Police Station, East Coast Demerara (ECD) will be reconstructed... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News – In the face of escalating global environmental challenges, water scarcity and... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]