Latest update April 25th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jul 17, 2018 Editorial
In a democratic country such as ours, those who compete for elected office have always promised to represent the interests of the people. This is known as political representation, which is synonymous with democracy and the rule of the people.
The idea of political representation dates back to the birth of democracy in Athens, Greece. It is an arrangement whereby the people elect representatives to political office to speak and act with authority on their behalf. It paved the way for accountability in government. This in turn paved the way for democratic representation, which is the classic definition of democracy enunciated by US President Abraham Lincoln as government of the people, by the people, for the people.
Political representatives should mirror the opinions and advance the interests of their constituents. However, this has not always been the case in Guyana, where the actions of many representatives leave grave doubts about whether they truly represent the people’s interest as against partisan, business and personal interests.
Many of our elected representatives tend to serve the needs and wants of special interests, which is invariably a minority of wealthy and powerful people whose objectives are often, if not always, at odds with the needs of the majority who are poor. While this is a common practice in many nations, it is the antithesis of representative democracy, good governance, and a betrayal of public trust by politicians.
It is true that political representation is a very complex issue and, in a democracy such as ours, diversity has made it almost impossible for a political representative to effectively represent the interests of all people. The reason being under the current electoral system, political representation is both at the national and regional levels. Based on this setting, 25 out of the 65 Members of Parliament (MPs) are elected from the ten geographical regions across the country. These members are considered Regional MPs which means that they represent the people living in those ten administrative regions of the country. The remaining 40 MPs represent the interests of the people at the national level. That said, political representation should be improved so that the interests of all Guyanese, including those in the Diaspora, can be represented equally.
Many may think that this type of political representation would serve the best interests of the majority, and that it is healthy for our democracy. However, a closer examination of the situation tells a different story. Some of our political representatives at both the national and regional levels feel comfortable in serving the interests of a few at the expense of the majority or to use their political office for personal benefits. Such unethical and immoral behaviour suggests that they are not about the country or the people but about themselves.
One of the ultimate tests of political representation is the extent to which politicians advance the interests of the largest number of people. This criterion is consistent with how political representation in a given population will serve as the highest good. This is critical in assessing the political representation in democratic societies such as Guyana where most of the people are not a homogeneous group with common interests, but rather a diversity of groups with divergent and conflicting interests. In terms of population, women are 52.5 percent of the populace, and although female representatives have increased over the years, yet women are only 33 percent of the representatives in Parliament.
In this regard, political representation would involve the representation of minority groups, labour unions, business interests, and powerful political donors, among others. Given the reality of the country’s ethnic make-up, its various groups and the diversity and conflicting interests, the duty of a true political representative is to seek to balance the competing interests.
Jagdeo giving Exxon 102 cent to collect 2 cent.
Apr 25, 2024
By Rawle Toney Kaieteur Sports – The French Diplomatic Office in Guyana, in collaboration with the Guyana Olympic Association and UNICEF, hosted an exhibition on Tuesday evening at the...Kaieteur News – Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, the General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party, persists in offering... 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]