PPP criticized for failure to consult with citizens

The Government of the United States has added its voice to the countless others calling on the installed PPP regime to consult with citizens before making decisions. Without mentioning any specific matter, the US government in a statement recently said, “We the people serve as a cornerstone to democracy and are essential in forging a system of governance that promotes broad-based participation from every citizen.”

“Whether it be choosing to build roads and bridges, create policies that encourage equitable economic prosperity, provide access to clean drinking water, or provide education that uplifts all citizens, democracy and access to free and fair elections gives every citizen the power to be inspired and participate in the collective quest for a perfect nation,” the statement read.

One is sure to notice, though, that the statement calling for citizens-participation comes amid widespread criticism of the PPP regime for pushing through legislation – the Natural Resources Fund Act (NRFA) – that will give the PPP unfettered access to Guyana’s oil-money, without any substantive oversight. Other matters of concern include the PPP’s pursuit of anti-COVID-19 policies without any consultation with other political or civil-society groups.

While many individuals have expressed much alarm over the PPP’s penchant for doing its own thing — even while governing with the slimmest of parliamentary margins following a less-than-credible election — it is the many civil society groups that have the loudest voices. Such groups include Article 13 which said the following: “While a single election may grant power to a political group for the administration of the State, such power has to be exercised within the parameters of the law, of which the Constitution is supreme.”

It should be noted that Article 13 of Guyana’s constitution — from which the group adopted its name — states the following: “The principal objective of the political system of the State is to establish an inclusionary democracy by providing increasing opportunities for the participation of citizens and their organisations in the management and decision-making processes of the State with particular emphasis on those areas of decision-making which particularly affect their well-being.

Another civil-society group Policy Forum Guyana said, the failure to consult on the NRFA is the most egregious violation of the expectation for consultation. The group added that, “since assuming office in 2020, avenues for influencing decision-making in Guyanese politics have been progressively closed off by the [PPP].”

More, In The Ring.