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The Irfaan Ali-led Government is serious about constitutional reform and giving every Guyanese citizen the opportunity to participate in this dynamic and fundamentally beneficial process.
As all the elements come together and planning moves at full speed, people are beginning to emphasize that politicians should take a step back and let citizens have their say.
The reminder and advice from Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo was timely as he stressed that no political party has the right to hijack the electoral process and dictate what changes should be made to Guyana’s Constitution.
He stressed the importance of broad representation in the Constitutional Reform Commission (CRC) and citizen participation, both of which are fundamental aspects of democracy and good governance.
From the outset, the PPP/CP government made clear its approach to constitutional reform: it must involve the people and must be driven by the people.
But as expected, government critics did not approve. They vented their dissatisfaction in public without giving even a shred of recognition or support for the government’s commitment to keeping its promises and the efforts it has made to move the process forward since taking office.
Recently, in response to some unfounded criticisms, some of which were directed at the CRC, the formation of which was part of the party’s manifesto, Dr Jagdeo said: “No political party should be so arrogant as to think that they can dictate what should be in the Constitution.
“That is why we said in our manifesto that we will have the same model as in the past, which is five from the opposition, five from the government and 10 from civil society.”
By adopting a model that includes representatives from both political parties and civil society, the CRC ensures that the reform process reflects diverse perspectives and meets the needs of the Guyanese people.
The model was articulated in the party’s 2020-2025 manifesto, taking into account that issues concerning constitutional reform, particularly those relating to the country’s inclusive governance model, election administration, trustee accountability, strengthening the rights of Guyanese and ensuring the language of the Constitution is simple and clear, have been raised and discussed in the public domain.
As Dr. Jagdeo has repeatedly stated, the PPP/C approach emphasizes inclusiveness and transparency.
Encouraging citizens to participate in the constitutional reform process will help identify and address vexing and prejudicial issues before major changes are made at the legislative level. This will undoubtedly require a strong public awareness campaign.
Decisions made with public participation are not only seen as more legitimate, but are also less challenged and seen as better decisions that benefit all stakeholders.
Once the Secretary is appointed, the Commission will begin its work. When that happens, every citizen should take the opportunity to contribute to the process. This is not only to make their voices heard and have their opinions recorded, but also to ensure that the foundations are laid for us to live a prosperous, peaceful life in a country that we can be proud of.
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