Tremendous possibilities exist during 10th Parliament – Trotman

Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman

Speaker  of  the National Assembly Raphael Trotman said despite uncertainty, confusion and trepidation, he predicts tremendous possibilities for growth and development during the 10th Parliament.
He said one of the objectives of Parliament is to use the National Assembly as a bridge between the various competing political forces; as a place for reconciling differences and finding points of convergence for the greater national good.
Trotman was speaking at a forum where several business executives and politicians interacted at the Pegasus Hotel last Thursday.
The Speaker pointed out that there is the greatest chance of fundamental and long-lasting change that is expected from this Parliament. “We are all coming to the realisation that the power we hold is like a sacred trust that has to be held and utilised responsibly, and in the context of Guyana, it must be distributed in such a way that it can only be unleashed when that responsibility is exercised by us working together.”
Trotman said that against this backdrop, there are many expectations, hopes and aspirations which sometimes coincide and collide at other times. He noted there are also great expectations of government, single and combined opposition, friendly states and international financial institutions which support the work of Parliament about what should be the product and outcomes of the 10th Parliament.
“There is no better time to be involved in the process of democracy. The National Assembly must give due recognition to Article 13, which mandates us to practice an inclusionary democracy and which I interpret to mean not serving one or two political parties, but the citizens to ensure their full participation in the decision-making process,” Trotman remarked.
He noted that in the context of Guyana being a multicultural, ethnic, socioeconomic and religiously diverse nation, the National Assembly can be the central hub from which democracy radiates outwards.
Trotman expressed hope that the Parliament can pursue the vision of realising a modern and truly representative national assembly in which people, parliamentary staff, Members of Parliament and government can work to promote inclusive democracy. “It is known that I am passionate about healing, reconciliation, cooperation in the political sphere and will use every ounce of energy and influence to forge this even in the face of attack.”
Trotman pointed out that constitutionally, Parliament comprised the executive and the National Assembly, and as described in Article 51, the two were meant to work in tandem with and not in trepidation of each other.
According to him, much of this had to do with the fact that the executive, since the institution of the 1980 Constitution, has been unable to resist the urge of seeing the National Assembly as an extension of the state.

Melting pot of excitement
However, he related that the 10th Parliament is a melting pot of excitement, providing a great deal of confusion, tumult and uncertainty and amusement. “But these are all necessary ingredients for revolutionary change and transformation. Needless to say there are many challenges in a scenario where no one party holds the majority of seats and where there are ever present fears and suspicions,” Trotman stated.
He disclosed that while government is still to make a mental adjustment to the reality that the system has changed, the opposition is yet to understand that they are not the government and to measure and quantify its own limits and extent of its powers. In a situation such as this, the Constitution of Guyana along with its rules and procedures are the only guideposts to be followed.
Pointing out his vision for Parliament, Trotman stressed that he intends to make the National Assembly accessible to civil society, and establish it as a forum of honour and national pride.
This, he said, can be achieved by embracing and maximising the benefits of information, communication technology (ICT), making the work attractive to the people and by encouraging more interaction in and out of the assembly.
Parliament has already started one innovation; the visits to schools in all administrative districts, and intends to improve inter-parliamentary party relations through the committee system and other informal channels.
“We also hope to enhance the training, conditions of services of MPs and parliamentary staff, inviting former MPs as special guest at each sitting and recognising their contributions.”
Trotman revealed that Parliament has been recently given the greenlight to establish a panel of experts drawing from this very pool of former members of Parliament to advise committees and the National Assembly as a whole.
He divulged that an invitation has already been issued to President Donald Ramotar to hold annual State of the Nations addresses in the National Assembly, instead of every five years.
Parliament has also embarked on a series of lectures, the first of which was delivered by Opposition Leader David Granger in May.
Trotman remarked that he intends to twin the National Assembly with other regional parliaments; already inviting the Speaker of Suriname’s parliament and a delegation to visit Guyana. “The process requires mutual understanding and responsibility between parties and a partnership for the development of the National Assembly to be forged by state and non-state actors and institutions.”