Parliament unanimously passes tribunal bills
--- D I Bill tabled
by Chamanlall Naipaul
Guyana Chronicle
May 14, 2004
THE National Assembly, meeting at Ocean View International Convention Centre, Liliendaal, yesterday, unanimously passed the Public Procurement Tribunal and the Rights Commissions Tribunal Bills, which seek to have these bodies established by law.
The main opposition party, the People's National Congress/Reform (PNC/R), continued its boycott of the National Assembly to agitate for an inquiry into allegations linking Minister of Home Affairs, Ronald Gajraj, to a so-called "death squad."
Speaking in support of the two Bills, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Reepu Daman Persaud observed that they emerged out of the constitutional reform process, which he said, "advanced magnificently," resulting in Guyana having the most advanced constitution in the English-Speaking Caribbean.
Minister Persaud said the Bills are intended to increase transparency, thereby deepening the democratic process, providing Guyanese with an opportunity to have issues of concern addressed at various levels, and ensuring justice is done at all levels of the society.
Taking the ordinary folks into consideration, Mr. Persaud said the terms of reference of the tribunals are written in simple language, adding that there legal provisions to appeal the decisions of the Commissions catered for under the Bills in the courts.
He conceded that constitutional changes take time to impact on the society, but stressed that human rights are sacred, adding that the present government has always vigorously pursued programmes and policies to ensure that human rights "occupy the highest places."
"We must rise above pettiness and think about Guyana," Minister Persaud exhorted, adding that the Bills were brought sincerely to the National Assembly to move the country forward.
Leader of the Rise Organise and Rebuild (ROAR) party, Ravi Dev, who supported the Bills, said there is no objection to their substance, but observed that the creation of institutions are meant to give "life" to values and in that context urged that selection of persons to serve on the tribunals be based on merit and not on loyalty to the ruling party as has been the experience in Guyana.
However, Mr. Persaud countered that nowhere in the law are provisions for appointment of persons based on party loyalty, adding that even though appointments will be made by the President, it has to be done based on advice by the Judicial Service Commission.
Mrs. Sheila Holder of the Working People's Alliance/Guyana Action Party (WPA/GAP) who also supported the Bills called for a focus on transparency, and expressed the hope that the persons appointed to serve on the bodies would do so to meet the desire of the Guyanese people.
Mrs. Holder expressed disappointment that the members of the Procurement Commission have not been appointed yet because of the differences between the government and the PNC/R.
At yesterday's sitting too the Minister of Fisheries, Crops and Livestock and acting Minister of Agriculture, Satyadeow Sawh, introduced the Drainage and Irrigation Bill.
According to Minister Sawh the proposed legislation is intended to provide for the establishment of a National and Drainage Authority to ensure that water resources are located, evaluated, conserved and utilized for the greatest national advantage through appropriate water management strategies.
The Bill also proposes increased farmer participation in water management through the formation of Water Users Associations, as well as the increased participation of local government organs and private entities.