BY MICHAEL YOUNGE
Attorney General (AG) Anil Nandlall has accused the Speaker of the National Assembly Raphael Trotman of condoning unconstitutionality while at the same time contributing to a situation of “chaos” in Guyana as the combined opposition is being allowed to show disrespect for the supreme laws of the land.
Nandlall also criticised Trotman’s stewardship of the 10th Parliament, saying that he has failed miserably in curbing the excesses of what he described as the tyranny of one, and has failed to execute his mandate in a fair and constitutional manner.
The AG was at the time delivering a lecture at the Progressive Youth Organisation’s (PYO) Night of Reflection organised as part of activities to mark the entity’s 61st anniversary this year.
Fundamental laws
Addressing more than 150 youths at the event, staged at the Red House in Kingston, Georgetown, Nandlall said that it was important for the youths to understand what was taking place in the National Assembly and how the combined opposition political parties were being allowed to breach fundamental laws and parliamentary practices.
This, he said, could see Guyana reaching a state of “anarchy” if the Speaker does not revisit and resign several positions he has adopted in the past, despite the counsel offered by the judiciary on several matters.
He said the Speaker in parliamentary systems like Guyana’s was expected to be the mere chairman of the proceedings and was fundamentally responsible for the maintenance of decorum, rectitude and enforcement of the Standing Orders of the Parliament.
The AG reasoned further that Trotman does not seem to understand quite fully too that he as Speaker along with the clerk of the National Assembly ought to be functioning as the combined agency to ensure that unconstitutional matters are not placed on the order paper and piloted through the assembly.
Challenge
He sharply criticised the Speaker for the positions he has adopted with respect to the suite of litigation brought against him by the executive arm of government, which is challenging the constitutionality of several rulings and actions of the opposition which enjoy the approval of the Speakership.
Asked by the audience about filing contempt proceedings against the Speaker for his reported dereliction of duty and noncompliance with the basic tenets of society, the attorney general said the government was hoping that it would not be forced to go “to those extremities” to remedy the apparent crisis.
