Good evening and welcome all. It is a pleasure to be able to welcome you here in such a beautiful setting to begin the discussion on some issues that are sometimes unpleasant. I speak of democracy, governance, and parliament. Article 51 of the Guyana Constitution states quite plainly, and simply that: “There shall be a Parliament of Guyana, which shall consist of the President and the National Assembly”; in that order.
These few, profound, but yet easily misunderstood and misapplied words are the basis for this Seminar, which is being held under the banner: Managing through Partnership”. It is no accident that this theme was chosen as it is intended that over the two days ahead, the achievable outcomes will be a better realisation, appreciation, and acceptance of the parliamentary system that we practice; but if I may make bold to say, have as yet been unable to perfect. We are still a young nation in search of a common identity and culture, and systems, traditions and customs that will give us a unique identity. The National Assembly, and how it functions as a representative, deliberative, inclusive body, is very much a part of that mosaic that makes up our identity. The results of the November 28 elections, and the consequences and outcomes alone tell us how unique we are as a commonwealth parliamentary nation.
The face of the 10th Parliament- where the Executive is controlled by one party, and the National Assembly comprises three parliamentary parties, and where the two that are defined as “the opposition” outnumber the one that is the “government”, is a reality. A second, little known, reality is that the Executive and the National Assembly were designed by the framers of our Constitution to ensure that the sum of all its parts work together like a mechanical engine to produce power and movement. Parliament therefore, comprised of executive and legislative branches, are expected to work as partners; if there is to be success of any kind. Difficult to accept perhaps, but indispensible to our nation’s good health and development.
I say: Let the partnership work; the people expect no less from us. It is time to tone down the rhetoric, accept the realities of the marvelous challenges and opportunities that the 10th Parliament present, and get about the people’s business. Because, buried deep within the mountain we like to call “challenges”, are the golden nuggets of opportunity that await our discovery and exploitation. We must embrace our problems, and in this regard constitution review and reform are now an imperative to continue the work of redesigning and adapting our executive, legislature, and judiciary.
In the meantime, whilst we start getting the pieces together and in place, I reiterate what many have spoken to me about and that is the need for greater levels of civility and tolerance in our discourse and interactions with each other. Remember, the President, Ministers, and MPs are all part of the parliament. We are all officers of state. When we dishonour ourselves and each other, we dishonour the state of Guyana. It’s not what we say and do, that’s important, but how we say and do the things that matter and determine whether we are continue growing to becoming a viable and successful nation state or retrogress into an ailing and weakened geographic area devoid of the basic characteristics of statehood.
It is against this backdrop that this Seminar is being held as a Training exercise not only for us to be better parliamentarians, but more importantly, to embrace the concept of partnership as a management tool for governance. It is expected that this is but the first in a series of programmes and projects that we hope to hold and to expose both MPs and staff alike to the newest and most innovative ideas and practices on parliamentarianism. I invite you to enjoy; to learn; to get to know each other better; and to exchange knowledge, views and opinions with your counterparts, and take full advantage of the wonderful programme that has been put together.
It would be remiss of me not to take this opportunity to thank the agencies and persons who have been instrumental in getting us to this stage. The hardworking staff of the National Assembly, the Clerk, PRO-Ms. Walton, and Ms. Bacchus and others, the UNDP Ambassador Khadija Musa and Trevor Benn and others for its continuing partnering efforts that began before the 10th Parliament and its eagerness to help us advance our democracy by underwriting much of our expenses; the British High Commission, High Commissioner Ayre, and Ms. Logofatu, and the United Kingdom Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, our visiting MPs who will be our resource persons, and of course all of you who saw it as important to be here.
I thank you.
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