Latest update April 26th, 2024 12:59 AM
Dec 14, 2018 Letters
DEAR EDITOR,
It is often said that parliament should not only be at the behest of the Governing party, but rather, should work to reflect the ideals of the citizenry through their elected representatives or MPs.
Can we pinpoint a location in Guyana and say John Doe is the MP for that constituency? I think not. Could the people in that location interact with their respective MPs on matters that, “may affect their wellbeing”, so that their MPs can vote on issues to reflect the will of their constituencies with the aim of being elected in future elections? I think not.
Our MPs are products of a mathematical calculation from a sum total of popular vote for the political parties; as a result they owe their allegiance to the political parties and not the people. Referring to our MPs as PPP MP and Coalition MP, is testimony that their loyalties and allegiance belong to a party and not the people – rendering our democracy as a farce.
The recent debate on the 2019 budget and all the budgets since independence, mirror the idiocy of our continued adherence to a tradition passed down by our colonial masters. What is the point of debating a budget before voting for it to pass? It will always pass, based on the allegiance of the MPs.
We have seen a budget that placed VAT on private education and medical stuff passed by this Coalition, much to the annoyance and cries of the citizenry. Why do we continue to waste 7 million per sitting of parliament on budget debates, when none has ever been stopped after 52 successive years? How much more asinine can we get as a Nation? Why don’t they, in one session – read the budget, call for a vote and pass the budget. The debate never yielded another result for 52 years.
The Coalition’s 2019 budget allotted more money to the military than Agriculture, whilst clamoring for a “Green Economy”. Food production and security has now taken a back seat to spending on the Military. Are we heading back to a military-style state, like the Burnham days? Eighty percent of the citizens will say that is wrong, but the budget will get the support of 33 MPs from the coalition to pass. Can we say that parliament is reflective of the people’s ideals in this scenario?
Seven days of debating at 7 million per day gives a grand total of 49 million! Why can’t we stop debating the budget and spend this sum yearly on creative arts – with emphasis on comedy? Quite frankly! The politicians can no longer amuse us with their boring, fruitless debates.
Adding insult to injury, parliament also creates havoc for commuters by curtailing our public spaces. The Coalition’s partners, having promised to remove the barriers erected around parliament building while the House was in session during the PPP era, have now taken the barriers further, causing more chaos for commuters.
Has parliament enacted laws that we should be proud of; to be tolerant of the chaos they put us through when they congregate? I think not. Presently, people are languishing in jail, sentenced for 3 years for smoking a joint – a victimless crime, while the thieves that break your doors or rob you in the streets, taking your hard-earned merchandise, are sentenced for a mere 3 months – compliments of our parliament.
It is time for citizens to rally for the relocation of parliament to a secure, iconic and symbolic location such as the burnt out location of the Camp Street Prison, where they will continue to rattle their sabres without disturbing the peace and tranquility of the commuting public.
Rudolph Singh
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