– PPP says diplomat exceeded limitBritish High Commissioner,Andrew AyreGovernment of Guyana and the United Kingdom (UK) are at extreme odds over the current suspension of Parliament.The statement of outgoing British High Commissioner, Andrew Ayre, during a press conference to explain his Government’s stance of calling for an early end to the Parliamentary stalemate and the definite naming of a date for elections, immediately drew sharp criticisms of meddling from the ruling People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and the Government alike.Last week, in clear signal that the diplomatic community was becoming exasperated over the current situation, British Foreign Office Minister, Tobias Ellwood, called “for the earliest possible resumption of Parliament” as required by Guyana’s Constitution and the Commonwealth Charter.“Parliament is required by Guyana’s Constitution and the Commonwealth Charter; it provides the necessary checks and balances and enables citizens’ voices to be heard. The suspension of Parliament therefore means that an essential element of a functioning democracy has been put on hold.”The British Minister also called for early holding of Local Government Elections, something that has not been held for over 20 years.No endHigh Commissioner Ayre, during the press conference at Cara Lodge, yesterday, to explain the Minister’s statement, said that his Government is concerned because two months after President Donald Ramotar announced the prorogation of Parliament, there remains no path towards its resumption.“Given that the stated reason for the prorogation was to have constructive talks with the majority Opposition, and given that those talks are not going to happen, the United Kingdom is increasingly concerned as to what the basis for the suspension of Parliament is and how long it will last for.”The diplomat made it clear that Parliamentary democracy is not just required by Guyana’s constitution- it is also required under the Commonwealth Charter. Members of the Commonwealth countries, of which Guyana and Britain are part, recently signed an agreement in Sri Lanka which outlined the centrality of democracy in their respective countries.The agreement spoke of “the importance of democracy; human rights; international peace and security; tolerance, respect and understanding; freedom of expression; separation of powers; rule of law; good governance amongst other things”.“President Ramotar signed this declaration on behalf of Guyana. So the UK calls on His Excellency to deliver on these commitments,” said Ayre.No Parliament means that no bills can be passed, he added.Ayre said that the affected legislations included the critical anti-money laundering and terrorist financing ones, which are badly needed if Guyana is to comply. “It means that no budget can be passed, so investment will eventually grind to a halt.”The High Commissioner warned that external investor confidence can suffer over insecurity around Guyana’s future prospects. This not only decreases the appetite of investors to take the risk of investing, but also pushes up the costs.“So it is not just a domestic matter. The UK has invested significant sums in helping to promote a more developed Guyana, through, for example, bilateral development assistance, both local and regional, hundreds of millions of Euros through the EU development programmes, hundreds of millions of pounds sterling to assist countries such as Guyana meet the important objectives outlined in the Millennium Development goals.”Business InterestsThe diplomat added that the UK also has significant business interests here which benefit not just UK companies but Guyanese people too. “All of this is at risk as is the notable progress made by Guyana in recent years.“The UK Government therefore calls on the Government of Guyana to resume Parliament without further delay or lay out a timeline for the resumption of Parliamentary democracy which helps to deliver shared commitments to democracy, security and prosperity for all.”Ayre believed that Guyana was going down a dangerous path as agreements had been signed on the international level. The matter of Guyana’s Parliament has even been raised at the Commonwealth level.The UK Government has had private meetings with Government and even issued public statements. Guyana never responded to the calls for an end to prorogation.Ayre admitted that Guyana’s membership of the Commonwealth could also come under review if there are sanctions.With regards to developmental assistance, Ayre believed the current Parliamentary situation will have impact as there is no oversight on how the monies are being spent. There will be reluctance to approve any.The diplomat said that the UK cares about Guyana, in addition to the considerable amount on investments in Guyana. As such, the UK has no problem leading the way on the notion of democracy.The outgoing diplomat, due to step down next month as his replacement has been named, also believed that the current winner-takes-all position adopted by political parties is not the way to go.With 33 seats of the 65 seats National Assembly being unable to give a voice, it is a situation that needs correction.He refused to speculate if his Government will consider revoking visas as part of the pressure to force elections or resumption of Parliament.Meddler!However, General Secretary of the PPP/C, and Home Affairs Minister,Andrew Benintendi Jersey, Clement Rohee, said that it appears that some members of the diplomatic community are becoming more and more involved locally, especially in the elections issue.Rohee, a former Foreign Affairs Minister, said that while this was understandable, there is a limit to which diplomats are allowed to go.He said that Ayre should have concerned himself more whether the prorogation of Parliament was constitutional…which it is.Rohee said that the High Commissioner’s statement may not be so relevant as in any case, Guyana is preparing for elections.Foreign Affairs Minister, Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, took to her Facebook page, saying that President Ramotar did not commit an illegality when he prorogued Parliament.“He acted in keeping with the Constitution and has already set a date for elections which will be announced shortly. Guyana has already alerted the Commonwealth that we will be requesting an observer mission. The High Commissioner cannot be so unaware.”She pointed out: “Ironically ‘prorogation’ is the legacy of the British and there must have been a good reason for it. Or is it that some can use it and others can’t? The threat of sanctions from the High Commissioner is not new. That very threat was made regarding Local Government Elections. Yet when a date by which the elections were slated to be held was announced by President Ramotar, it appeared no longer important enough to encourage the other parties to work together to see it materialize.“That threat was also not that veiled when Guyana voted a particular way on an issue at the UN. Of course we were vindicated on the latter with recent developments.”Yet small developing countries have to always remind themselves of this type of colonization that continues even as we try to consolidate our traditional relationships while forming alliances with like-minded States in order to raise our standard of development.Parliament, under President Ramotar, has been a stormy one after the ruling party lost its Parliamentary majority in 2011 after two decades of control.The situation has raised tensions with budget disapprovals, non-passage of key legislations, court cases and questions over several state projects.President Ramotar suspended Parliament late last year when Parliament was due to be reconvened after the recess and an Opposition no-confidence motion was set to be debated.
