Latest update April 24th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jul 16, 2018 Letters
Dear Editor,
“Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions. When there is no accountability, there is abuse, corruption, subjugation and indignation.
Parliament is entrusted to be the ‘watchdog ‘ of our democracy and hold the executive accountable. But it is the executive that decides when the parliament should meet to exercise oversight of its functioning. Does such a manner in allowing the executive in convening parliament affect it to perform effectively?
The issue of who has the power to convene parliament is significant because it is closely related to the recent trend of declining numbers of sittings days. With the current political climate the delay of summoning parliament is under much criticism because APNU/AFC coalition government is afraid of scrutiny.
As the highest representative body parliament is the forum for debates and deliberation. The PPP as the opposition is mandated to criticise the policies, plans, bills and laws which in accordance to the PPP are against the common people’s welfare and if any scam is found reveal it out in front of the nation.
The slim majority of one is the major factor why parliament is not functioning regularly and as such it is estimated that parliament of Guyana meets about 20 days per year (subjected for correction) which is unacceptable by the Guyanese electorates.
Only recently the government increased the parliamentary stipend with the intention that there would be an increase of work by parliamentarians. Unfortunately there was a deliberate decline on the number of sittings, because of the government side parliamentarians’ unavailability. President David Granger who was a messiah of scrutiny and transparency before the 2015 elections now remains silently on the efficient functioning of the parliament of Guyana.
President Granger himself has refused to engage the media at press conferences but with strict security measures talks to journalists at sidelines of his ceremonial duties. This action can be considered disrespectful and as journalists whenever we see racism, discrimination, corruption, public lies, dictatorship and human rights violations you have to take a stand because your responsibility as journalists is to confront those who are abusing power.
We have seen overtime that countries that have the best economic growth are those that have good governance and good governance comes from freedom of communication.
The big question is why parliament is used as executive tools deliberately to avoid scrutiny? The APNU/AFC Coalition government since 2011 has been failing Guyana with the parliamentary majority and it continues to use the parliamentary majority to impose more hardships on the Guyanese people and fail miserably to achieve the” good life “promised.
Zamal Hussain
LISTEN HOW JAGDEO WILL MAKE ALL GUYANESE RICH!!!
Apr 24, 2024
Round 2 GFF Women’s League Division One Kaieteur Sports – The Guyana Police Force FC on Saturday last demolished Pakuri Jaguars FC with a 17 – 0 goal blitz at the Guyana Football...Kaieteur News – Just recently, the PPC determined that it does not have the authority to vitiate a contract which was... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... 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]