Tag Archives: Constitutional Reform

GUYANA: Politics: Aubrey Norton Is At A Fork In The Road – By Ralph Ramkarran

04/19/2022 – 11:48 am

Posted by Ralph Ramkarran

The fundamental objective of a political party is to gain political office and implement its policies for the benefit of the country. After months of grueling effort, Aubrey Norton has finally succeeded in overcoming ‘factionalism’ in the PNC by being nominated for a seat in the National Assembly and being elected as Opposition Leader. The word ‘factionalism’ is adopted from an editorial in Village Voice, an internet newspaper that is generally sympathetic to the Opposition. It discussed Norton’s journey from candidate to Opposition Leader.

It is generally difficult in Guyana to interrogate factionalism in the PPP and PNC because information about internal differences of opinion is unavailable or unreliable. In the case of Mr. Norton’s rise to the leadership of the PNC, it is a bit easier because  Continue reading →

By guyaneseonline | Posted in Commentary, Government, Guyana, Guyana elections, History, Personalities, Politics | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (1)

GUYANA: The Bright Century Beckons: But What’s In It For Me, And When? – By Ralph Ramkarran

02/23/2022 – 12:30 am

– By Ralph Ramkarran – February 19, 2022 Conversation Tree Blog

The spectacular possibilities that await Guyana were revealed at the recently concluded Oil & Gas conference. Government spokespersons, led by President Irfaan Ali, Prime Minister Mark Phillips and Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, and other officials, revealed plans, set out priorities and declared objectives. The head of Exxon talked about the possibilities of the oil industry and its growing potential. Not only will production increase but discoveries will multiply. The official estimate of reserves is 10 billion barrels, the unofficial 13. Guyanese can begin to think realistically of a potential of 20 billion and hope for 30 billion.

This was a conference to encourage investment and investors were represented. But the Heads of Government who attended – from Barbados, Suriname and Ghana – spoke about the interests of the Guyanese people. Even though Guyanese leaders did so as well, it was clear that uppermost in the minds of conference participants was investment opportunities, and not wages and working conditions for the jobs that would be created.           Continue reading →

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GUYANA Politics: That “Bloated” Electoral List – by Ralph Ramkarran 

04/14/2021 – 12:03 am
Ralph Ramkarran  – Conversation Tree Blog 

In 2010 I wrote an article on the overseas vote in which I argued that the Constitution of Guyana permitted all Guyanese citizens over the age of 18 to vote. Since there was no residence stipulation, Guyanese residing overseas have a right to vote. As readers would imagine, it elicited some controversy. I was a member of the leadership of the PPP at that time.

Mr. Robert Corbin, then leader of the PNCR, in a masterful display of irony, accused the PPP of seeking to re-introduce the overseas vote which, incidentally, the PNC had facilitated and grossly manipulated in the 1968 elections so much so that voters were registered as residing at the address of a horse pasture in the UK.        Continue reading →

By guyaneseonline | Posted in Commentary, Government, Guyana, Guyana Diaspora, Guyana elections, Personalities, Politics, Racial Conflict | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (4)

Guyana Politics – EXPLOITING THE SENTIMENTS OF THE ELECTORATE – By Ralph Ramkarran

01/17/2019 – 12:38 am

Ralph Ramkarran

SHARED GOVERNANCE

Conversation Tree Blog – January 12, 2019  – by Ralph Ramkarran

In a lengthy article written in 2011 before the general elections of that year, for “Freedom House” on “Countries at the Crossroads 2011: Guyana,” Assistant Professor Joan Mars, of the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice of the University of Michigan-Flint, said: “Elections are constitutionally due to be held in 2011.

Calls by the political opposition for shared governance have not been endorsed by the ruling PPP/C administration headed by President Jagdeo; with its consistent absolute majority in parliament, the PPP/C has had little incentive to agree to share power, but the idea may be gathering momentum as a major rallying point in the forthcoming elections.“ Assistant Professor Mars, a former practising lawyer in Guyana, concluded: “The current system of majority rule should be reformed to provide for a power-sharing model that is representative of the ethnic diversity in the population.           Continue reading →

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT – by Ralph Ramkarran – commentary

03/24/2016 – 12:22 am

LOCAL GOVERNMENT – by  

Posted on March 19, 2016 – Conversationtree blog

Ralph Ramkarran

Ralph Ramkarran

Once upon a time, during the colonial era, Guyana had a local government system that functioned. It emerged from the establishment of village democracy in estates purchased by freed slaves. It did not cover all of Guyana and its functions were limited. But legislation throughout the 20th century improved and expanded the local government and municipal systems. These became so well organized that there was a national body called the Guyana Association of Local Authorities, which had great influence in the early years of our modern political development.

Many might be tempted to attribute the destruction of Guyana’s local government system since 1970, or thereabouts, by the failure to hold no more than two elections since then, as a conspiracy between the main political parties. But it was not.    Continue reading →

By guyaneseonline | Posted in Governance, Government, Guyana, Local Government, Politics | Also tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

GUYANA – Latest News – 13 August 2015 – Demerara Waves

08/14/2015 – 8:09 am

GUYANA – Latest News – 13 August 2015 – Demerara Waves

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UNFINISHED BUSINESS – By Ralph Ramkarran

08/11/2015 – 12:25 am
Ralph Ramkarran

Ralph Ramkarran

UNFINISHED BUSINESS – By Ralph Ramkarran

A report appeared in the press last week of a meeting between the Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, Minister of Governance, Raphael Trotman and AFC executive and prominent attorney, Mr. Nigel Hughes to discuss constitutional reform. Constitutional reform is one of the undertakings given by the APNU+AFC coalition in its 100-day programme. No doubt the Government is looking to make an announcement on the issue before the end of the 100-day period.

On July 24 a symposium took place at Moray House on constitutional reform. The panelists were myself, Henry Jeffrey and Haslyn Parris. The proceedings were chaired by Miles Fitzpatrick. We were engaged in what might well be regarded as unfinished business. As leading member, Secretary and Chair, respectively, of the Constitutional Reform Commission, Miles Fitzpatrick, Haslyn Parris and I handed in our report to the Speaker of the National Assembly some fifteen years ago. The feeling at that time by some was that the process we had concluded did not resolve the most fundamental problems facing Guyana.   Continue reading →

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GUYANA: Capitol TV News Videos – 25 June 2015

06/26/2015 – 9:57 am

Capitol TV logoGUYANA: Capitol TV News Videos – 25 June 2015

  • Gov’t denounces latest Maduro overtures on Guyanese territory
  • Nagamootoo soon to kick start constitutional reform
  • Linden to get own TV station soon – Nagamootoo
  • Ramjattan says Police Force needs more resources, training
  • Ed Ahmad NYC court in trial of Congressman Sampson of NY
  • Investigation into scrap metal trade nears completion
  • Sports

Click links below to view the TV News videos:-  Continue reading →

By guyaneseonline | Posted in Business, crime and Investigations, Government, Guyana, Headline News Links, Local Government, Sports | Also tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Guyana: Capitol TV News Videos – 20 May 2015

05/21/2015 – 10:49 am

Capitol TV logoGuyana: Capitol TV News Videos – 20 May 2015

  • Granger appoints Prime Minister, 15 ministers
  • Exxon Mobil announces “significant” oil discovery
  • Nagamootoo to oversee information sector, and lead constitutional reform
  • New Finance Minister gets down to budget preparation
  • Georgetown clean up continues
  • Granger aims to create bribe-free public sector
  • Sports

Click links below to view the TV News videos:   Continue reading →

By guyaneseonline | Posted in Business, Environment, Government, Guyana, Oil Exploration | Also tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Guyana: The PPP should embrace Constitutional Reform – By Ralph Ramkarran

03/10/2015 – 8:10 am

THE PPP SHOULD EMBRACE CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM

Posted on March 7, 2015 by  in conversationtree.gy 

Ralph Ramkarran

Ralph Ramkarran

This month the PPP celebrates the life of Cheddi Jagan. In preparing to face the electorate, the party will be today invoking his legacy at Babu John. The electioneering mode that will dominate the proceedings and atmosphere at Babu John will seek to build enthusiasm and momentum, which are critical in the electoral battleground of the Corentyne, whose voting may decisively influence the outcome of the elections, as it did in 2011. To recover the votes it lost in 2011 in the Corentyne, the public can expect a colourful rally with robust verbal assaults on the APNU+AFC alliance.

The PPP could have been facing the electorate in completely different circumstances. Displaying a woeful lack of foresight, it sat back and allowed its opponents to unite, rather than keeping them competing for influence, as they had been doing after the elections. The exposure of the Government/Granger Linden electricity deal by the AFC in 2012 comes to mind. Now, the APNU+AFC political alliance threatens the PPP’s hold on political power.   Continue reading →

By guyaneseonline | Posted in Governance, Government, Guyana, Politics, Racial Conflict | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (1)
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