Co-leader of the Working People’s Alliance (WPA), Dr David Hinds said it is unacceptable that one month after the General and Regional Elections, the President has still not proclaimed a date for the convening of the 13th Parliament.
During a press conference on Wednesday, Dr Hinds questioned the delay in the convening of the new Parliament, as the Government forges ahead with its agenda.
“The National Assembly is one of the three foundation branches of government. How can we argue that government is working when its lawmaking body is non-existent? Both the judiciary and executive branches are conducting their constitutional functions—why not the legislative branch? The president did not hesitate to name and swear in his cabinet after he was declared winner and hurriedly sworn in. Why a different standard for the National Assembly? Why is the president holding up the work of the National Assembly?” Hinds questioned.
Earlier this week, President Ali assured that he will convene the National Assembly within the Constitutional timeframe, which allows for the new Parliament to be convened within four months after the dissolution of the last Parliament. The four-month timeline will expire in November.
But Dr Hinds believes that the Government is holding the legislative branch hostage.
“When you take into consideration the situation whereby the executive has held the judiciary at ransom by not regularizing its top officers, what we have in effect is executive supremacy underpinned by paramountcy of the party. This is a sure recipe for autocracy and one-party rule,” Dr Hinds.
The WPA co-leader said the government must convene the National Assembly without further delay.
He said while the President has the power to set the date, time and location for the convening of the National Assembly, the spirit of the law deters him from using that power as if he were a king.
He said too WPA also wants the Constitution to be amended to remove the control of the management of the legislature from the Executive.
“Strict separation of powers should be explicitly enshrined in the constitution. Experience has shown that more often than not our governments have scant respect for the letter of the law. The National Assembly should have direct control over its workings. There should be a statutory date for the swearing in of MPs in a new parliament. Further, parliamentary sittings should be statutory and not left to the whims and fancy of the executive branch of government, he said.
When the Parliament is convened, four parties will be represented in the House. The goverining People’s Progressive Party will hold the majority with 36 seats.
The WIN party will be the main opposition with 16 seats, followed by the APNU and its 12 seats and the Forward Guyana Movement with a single seat.
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