The Guyana Constitution should be replaced

TIMES INT'L

Dear Editor,

Chief Justice Ian Chang is expected to rule on the challenge (filed by a few voters) of the Presidential Term Limit Bill. I will be most surprised if he rules that the bill is “constitutional”. And whichever way he rules, rest assured that there will be a challenge.

Voters were never consulted by the constitution and never gave their assent to it. For me, and indeed a majority of people I spoke with since 1978, the Burnham constitution is unconstitutional.

It should have been dumped twenty two years ago as Cheddi Jagan promised during the campaign for the 1992 elections, in speeches in New York, and in a newspaper interview I conducted with him.

The fact that a Parliamentary Committee made changes to the constitution bill in 2001, does not make it any more legal than what it was in the rigged 1978 referendum. I have consistently argued that voters should be given a chance to assent to or reject the constitution or any amendments to it.

Why should only Members of Parliament decide on how the people will be governed? Why can’t the people themselves decide on how they should be governed? The people are sovereign – they, not the parliament, should be empowered to decide on their political fate.

The Burnham constitution is illegal. Whichever party is elected on Monday should move with haste to replace it. The people should be consulted on the preparation of a constitution.

The elite should not be the only ones to decide on what is best for the people. Whatever constitution is drafted, there should be a choice for the people to choose from.

And the people should have the right to a referendum to alter the constitution at any time of their choosing through a petition or through a majority vote of the parliament.

T. Bisram

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