Guyana Trades Union Congress, Press Statement (December 7, 2014)
The GTUC calls on political parties, civil society and every Guyanese to hold President Ramotar accountable for respecting the nation’s institutions and the will of the people.
The problem that confronts Guyana is good governance. The manner in which Parliament has been prorogued and the continuation of this proclamation on the promise that elections will be held next year is a reflection that the Executive has no regard for Constitution and the will of the people.
What President Ramotar has done by saying to the nation that there will be elections next year must be seen as a deceptive act to remove the pressure on him to lift the prorogation. The offer for elections does not absolve the President from the violation of the spirit and intent of the Constitution in his application of prorogation Article 70 (1).
GTUC urged the citizens to up their activism and have the President reconvene the National Assembly, because the issue before us is the non-functioning of the nation’s highest democratic organ and decision-making forum (Article 50). For us as citizens to resign ourselves that elections will be called when the Constitution is being violated is to abrogate our sovereignty (Article 9), our responsibility to ensure government operates by respecting laws and our rights. The opportunity to govern is a privilege not a right and the population must ensure President Ramotar respects this.
The act committed by the President on 10th November was the prorogation of the Parliament, violating the spirit and intent of the Constitution and this continues to be the issue before us. It is therefore ill-advised to yearn for the president to name a date for elections which would be giving him a pass for the abominable act committed by him on the people. Once prorogation stands the offer for elections is inconsequential.
Further, the offer to have elections next year cannot be seen as a replacement to the National Assembly being allowed to function. It is this institution/arm of government our elected officials are expected to meet and conduct business on our behalf. Thus, to succumb to the offer of elections in 2015 is to allow ourselves to be hoodwinked by the President given that the issue before us is the immobilising of the National Assembly.
The failure to hold the President accountable to reconvene the National Assembly is tantamount to partnering with him and his administration to entrench dictatorship. The GTUC cannot and will not tolerate this serious violation of our supreme law and the abuse of the will of the people. The GTUC calls on President Ramotar to reconvene the National Assembly without delay.
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