Opposition Political parties represented in the National Assembly have poured cold water on President Irfaan Ali’s two and a half hour address to the nation last night, describing it as a scripted address heaped with self-praise with no real relief for Guyanese, especially the most vulnerable in society.
APNU Member of Parliament, Ganesh Mahipaul said in addition to the address by the President not offering real solutions to Guyanese, the President’s choice to address the nation from outside of the Parliamentary precinct flies in the face of democratic norms.
“The manner in which the address was delivered was for me deeply troubling and speaks volumes of this government’s attitudes towards democratic accountability. The President choose to address the nation from outside of the seat of the National Assembly, at a time when, despite Members of Parliament have already been sworn in. In a Parliamentary democracy, accountability belongs in the National Assembly,” the President stated.
Leader of the WIN party, Azruddin Mohamed, in a statement also chided the President for not delivering the address inside of the Parliament. Beyond that, he said Guyanese were betrayed by the President’s address.
“Guyanese are upset, they are upset because promises were made, expectations were set and those promises were broken. Many had plans for the cash grant, I feel for our public servants, especially those on minimum wage and our men and women in uniform having to make the season festive without any additions,” Mohamed said.
Leader of the Forward Guyana Movement, Amanza Walton Desir, also held the view that it was disrespectful not to address elected Members of Parliament, said she believes the President’s address is supposed to set the stage for the Parliamentary term.
“And so what you had there, was a Parliamentary address that is usually given by the Head-of State to the elected members of the National Assembly. Tradition, customs and practice states that that usually delivered in the National Assembly because it is recorded and it sets legislative and policy agenda for the next five years. As we know the PPP refused to convene another sitting of the national assembly particularly in the context of not wanting the election of an opposition leader,” Ms. Walton-Desir noted.
Walton-Desir said the President’s address failed to tackle geopolitical tensions in the region, adding that the vision outlined by the President can fall flat if war breaks out in the region.
“Every plan that he has espouse there tonight can turn over on its head tomorrow if the peace of this region erodes if tensions break out or if armed conflict breaks out and yet he presents a whole two and a half vision that does not speak to that, help me to understand how that is even practical, logical or responsible,” Walton- Desir questioned.
While Government Members of Parliament, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, the Joint Services and the Business Community were invited to the President’s address, Opposition Members said they were not invited at all.
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