Reforms Reforms Reforms

“...which governs better, a king or a senate? Neither, if (as is frequently the case) both are bad. But if both are good, then I think that the senate, because of its numbers, is the better and that the greater good lies in numerous good men.” - Sir Thomas More (1478-1535) What Is the Best Form of Government

“Parliament has the responsibility to legislate for the benefit and the welfare of our whole people” - Selassie 1, 1948

“Group tradition must supply compensation for persecution, and pride of race the antidote for prejudice. History must restore what slavery took away. For it is the social damage of slavery that the present generation must repair and offset” - Arturo Alfonso Schomburg (1874-1938)

Fellow Guyanese

I greet you with words of greetings of our ancestors in their natural habitat - the Nile River Basin - Peace and Blessings! 

I do not understand why Guyanese accept and defend the politics of the last 60 years. I charge 48 years after independence the climate of race hatred and/or mistrust and fear continues. This prevalent condition is indicative that the educational system has failed to eradicate the indoctrination and misconceptions which prior generations bequeathed to succeeding generations. It is clear.  Educational reform is also necessary.

I am not at all pleased with the electoral process and the aftermath of elections in Guyana. Do you know the dates of the next elections? I do not know the dates of elections in Guyana. Why do Guyanese continue to permit the head of state and the ruling political party to fix and/or establish the dates of elections? Are you satisfied with the system of elections?

There are no satisfactory excuses and/or reasons for the failure of holding local government elections in Guyana. The fact that there has not been local government election in Guyana for numerous years is ultimately the fault of the Guyanese people. Your continued support of politics of negativity speaks volumes. 

 The population of Guyana is less than a million people. The population density is less than ten persons per square mile.  The number of registered voters would be in the vicinity of 500,000. Political and constitutional reforms are absolute necessities. 

Are there reasons why the first Monday in the month of December should not be the day in which elections are held?

Why aren’t elections held on a perpetual fixed day in a similar manner as is the scenario in the USA?  The Guyanese people must demand that transparency in government and fair elections beyond controversies. Most of all there must no tolerance for violence with respect to elections. National elections should be held every five years and local government elections every three years. Supplementary elections should be held within 100 days to fill vacancies. Election Day should be the first Monday of December...

The electorate must decide the politics. The system of propositional representation as practised in Guyana belongs in the dust cans of the past. 

The idea that the political parties select the people to occupy the highest offices in the land is as ridiculous a notion as system of royalists. I cannot support the absurdity which permitted   people to be heads of government by virtue of their genealogy. I would love to witness a parliament consisting of community leaders - such as mayors, and village chairpersons. I believe such a scenario would be much nearer to the representation of the people...

I agree with the most honourable Thomas More. He stated in the sixteenth century that the senate is the best form of government. You ask which governs better, a king or a senate. Neither, if (as is frequently the case) both are bad. But if both are good, then I think that the senate, because of its numbers, is the better and that the greater good lies in numerous good men.

ELIGIBILITY OF THE HEAD OF STATE

The head of state and spouse must be birthed in Guyana.

The head of state and spouse must have one generation of ancestors birthed in Guyana.

The head of state must have a spouse at all times.

The head of state and spouse must exhibit the masculine and feminine gender at all times.

The head of state must be limited to two terms of five years.

 The head of state must not occupy office more than a total of ten total years in office . . .

The head of state must be elected to a local government office prior to be elected head of state of Guyana. 

The head of state must occupy elected in Local Government Administration for no less than seven years prior to be elected head of state of Guyana...

The head of state must be no younger than thirty one (31) years of age.

NATIONAL ELECTIONS

National Elections must be held on the first Monday of December

National Elections must be held every five years.

Every member of the Legislative and Judicial branches must be elected by the consensus of the electorate.

A member of the Legislative Assembly must be no younger than twenty-eight (28) years of age.

A member of the Legislative Assembly must dwell within the district in which the individual is proposed as a candidate

A member of the Legislative Assembly must be a resident for at least seven years within the district in which the individual is proposed as a candidate

A member of the Legislative Assembly must be limited to four terms of five years.

A member of the Legislative Assembly must not be permitted more than twenty years in office.

A member of the Legislative Assembly and spouse must be birthed in Guyana.

A member of the Legislative Assembly and spouse must have one generation of ancestors birthed in Guyana.

A member of the Legislative Assembly must have a spouse at all times.

A member of the Legislative Assembly and spouse must exhibit the masculine and feminine gender at all times.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT REFORM

Return to the system of Village District Councils circa Village Ordinance 1892

Modernizing the Village Ordinance 1892

Meetings of the Village Councils must be monthly

The monthly meetings of the village councils must be mandatory – every member of Council must attended – only personal health issues is acceptable. Three unsatisfactory reasons constitute grounds for dismal. The offices of Overseer, assistant overseer, clerks, sanitary inspector, ranger and other similar entities ought not to be elective but must be above board and transparent to the scrutiny of residents of the community

Eligibility of Chairpersons and Councillors of Village Districts.

One Councillor for every 365 residents

Councillors must dwell within the district in which Councillor is proposed as a candidate

Councillors must be a resident for at least five years within the district in which Councillor is proposed as a candidate

 A Councillor must be limited to seven terms of three years.

A Councillor must not be permitted more than twenty one years in office.

A Councillor must be birthed in Guyana.

 Local Government elections must be held on the first Monday of December

Local Government elections must be held every three years.

 Every member of the village council must be elected by the people of the district.

A Councillor must not be younger than eighteen (18) years of age

 The Village District Council must be responsible for the administration of the institutions, infrastructure, and all phases of life within the district . . .

The voters must be residents for five years within the district. Lists of candidates and lists of voters must be made easily accessible to the general public. Thereby such lists of electorate could then be scrutinized by the general public. All issues must be satisfactorily settled before elections are held.

Judges and Magistrates must be elected by the people

Mayors and their deputies, chairpersons and their deputies should meet every three or four months to discuss and review procedures and enactments of all branches of government and to improve conditions within the communities they represent . . .