Constitutional Reform… Executive presidency has to go

GUYANA - Executive Member of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Dr. David Hinds, is disillusioned by the fact that the Government has not taken an aggressive approach towards Constitutional Reform. In a recent interview with this publication, he stressed that there has simply been no energy from the government in this area. This is most disappointing, he said. Dr. Hinds asserted that Guyana is not going to break out of its political stranglehold if the authority of the day does not change the rules of engagement. Dr. Hinds insists that power has to be democratized. The political activist said that the Constitution must reflect the character of the country: “The Executive presidency has to go—it’s too imperial. Winner takes all elections rules must go. Local Government must be removed from the tyranny of the Central Government and most of all, they must be controlled not by party zealots, but by the people.”

The WPA Executive Member remarked that it is a shame that the government has not moved on these matters. Additionally, the political activist said that there has been an over-concentration of power in the hands of a few people—the Cabinet. He stressed that this is dangerous for democracy. Dr. Hinds commented that decision making in a Coalition cannot be confined to a few people in Cabinet. He said that it simply defeats the logic and praxis of a Coalition. “The APNU does not function—it’s a partnership in name only. The APNU+AFC do not function outside of Cabinet. Recently an AFC member revealed that problems are ironed out by the leaders. This is a clear case of personalizing power at the expense of institutions.” Dr. Hinds commented that the government essentially runs the risk of killing institutions and reinstating “onemanism and two-manism.”

(Kaieteurnews.com)