Guyana's Electoral System Of Governance Reform Ideas!
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DerryckMimbari
Feb 22, 2011, 9:46:00 AM2/22/11
to GUYANA-TODAY
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Guyana
http://mimbari.livejournal.com/122329.html
February 22-2011:
Guyana's Electoral System Of Governance Reform Ideas!
The Presidency:
Executive authority is exercised by the president, who appoints and
supervises the prime minister and other ministers. The president is
not directly elected; each party presenting a slate of candidates for
the assembly must designate in advance a leader who will become
president if that party receives the largest number of votes. The
president has the authority to dissolve the parliament, but in
contrast to nearly all parliamentary regimes, the Constitution of
Guyana does not provide any mechanism for parliament to replace the
president during his or her term of office, except in case of mental
incapacity or gross constitutional violations. This makes Guyana an
"assembly-independent" regime (Shugart and Carey 1992) much like
Switzerland.
The Prime Ministership:
Only the prime minister is required to be a member of the assembly. In
practice, most other ministers also are members. Those who are not
serve as non-elected members, which permits them to debate but not to
vote.The president is not a member of the National Assembly but may
Address it at any time or have his address read by any member he may
designate a convenient time for the Assembly. Under Guyana's
constitution the President is both the Head of State and Head of
Government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.
The Legislative Branch:
Legislative power of Guyana rests in a unicameral National Assembly.
In 2001 the makeup of the National Assembly was reformed. Now 25
members are elected via proportional representation from 10 Geographic
Constituencies. Additionally 40 members are chosen also on the basis
of proportional representation from National lists named by the
political parties. The president may dissolve the assembly and call
new elections at any time, but no later than 5 years from its first
sitting.
CONCLUSION:
Vote Of No Confidence In The Presidency:
The National Assembly should have the authority to conduct a vote of
no confidence in the presidency, if he/she deliberately interferes
with Parliamentary affairs, or indulges in behavior that may be
construed by the National Parliament as personal interference or
coercion. And the National Parliament should have the authority under
these circumstances, to call for the resignation of the President
within thirty days of receipt of such resignation. If he/she refuses
to acknowledge same or resign, then the parliament should have the
authority to appoint the VP, or the Speaker of the House to act as the
president, pending the next general election.
I also believe that the President should not have any say in the daily
business of the National Assembly/Parliament. And that he/she should
only have jurisdiction to dissolve the National Parliament, if they
deliberately violate the National Constitution Of Guyana. In such a
case, the president should make this observation public to the
commonweal, of his/her intention to dissolve same, and solicit or
appoint a few individuals to act as the Interim Government pending
National Elections within sixty days.
Regional And General Elections:
These National Elections should be conducted on the same day. And the
National Constitution should provide the Month and Day of such
elections. And each county/region should have a representative from
each political party or independent candidate to represent that region
or county. And their names, photographs, and political party, or
candidacy Must be shown on all ballots, so that voters are able to
recognize who they are voting for.
And the president will have the responsibility to announce the
national elections as part of his/her responsibility, at least six
months before the date prescribed in the National Constitution. And
the dissolution of Parliament some time before, in order to give them
or anyone adequate time to declare their intent to contest, and to
canvass for the Presidency, the Vice President, Regional and National
Offices, but not both.
Terms In Office:
No President or Prime Minister should be allowed to serve more than
two five year terms consecutively. The same applies to the Elected
members of Parliament too. And these term limits can only be valid
from the national electorate votes at the general elections. And these
national or general elections Must be held every five years.
Candidates Electoral Debates:
I also believe that at least TWO debates should be agreed upon by all
candidates involved, to be held at an agreed Public Forum, and at a
convenient time agreed upon also. These debates MUST be monitored by
some politically neutral person that all the candidates agree to have
do so. And with live Internet, Radio, and Television coverage
instantaneously. The cost of these TWO debates Must be covered by the
state, as an incentive for the Democratic process, and the
commonweal's information and enlightenment.
Derryck S. Griffith.
NYC.
http://mimbari.livejournal.com/122329.html
February 22-2011:
Guyana's Electoral System Of Governance Reform Ideas!
The Presidency:
Executive authority is exercised by the president, who appoints and
supervises the prime minister and other ministers. The president is
not directly elected; each party presenting a slate of candidates for
the assembly must designate in advance a leader who will become
president if that party receives the largest number of votes. The
president has the authority to dissolve the parliament, but in
contrast to nearly all parliamentary regimes, the Constitution of
Guyana does not provide any mechanism for parliament to replace the
president during his or her term of office, except in case of mental
incapacity or gross constitutional violations. This makes Guyana an
"assembly-independent" regime (Shugart and Carey 1992) much like
Switzerland.
The Prime Ministership:
Only the prime minister is required to be a member of the assembly. In
practice, most other ministers also are members. Those who are not
serve as non-elected members, which permits them to debate but not to
vote.The president is not a member of the National Assembly but may
Address it at any time or have his address read by any member he may
designate a convenient time for the Assembly. Under Guyana's
constitution the President is both the Head of State and Head of
Government of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana.
The Legislative Branch:
Legislative power of Guyana rests in a unicameral National Assembly.
In 2001 the makeup of the National Assembly was reformed. Now 25
members are elected via proportional representation from 10 Geographic
Constituencies. Additionally 40 members are chosen also on the basis
of proportional representation from National lists named by the
political parties. The president may dissolve the assembly and call
new elections at any time, but no later than 5 years from its first
sitting.
CONCLUSION:
Vote Of No Confidence In The Presidency:
The National Assembly should have the authority to conduct a vote of
no confidence in the presidency, if he/she deliberately interferes
with Parliamentary affairs, or indulges in behavior that may be
construed by the National Parliament as personal interference or
coercion. And the National Parliament should have the authority under
these circumstances, to call for the resignation of the President
within thirty days of receipt of such resignation. If he/she refuses
to acknowledge same or resign, then the parliament should have the
authority to appoint the VP, or the Speaker of the House to act as the
president, pending the next general election.
I also believe that the President should not have any say in the daily
business of the National Assembly/Parliament. And that he/she should
only have jurisdiction to dissolve the National Parliament, if they
deliberately violate the National Constitution Of Guyana. In such a
case, the president should make this observation public to the
commonweal, of his/her intention to dissolve same, and solicit or
appoint a few individuals to act as the Interim Government pending
National Elections within sixty days.
Regional And General Elections:
These National Elections should be conducted on the same day. And the
National Constitution should provide the Month and Day of such
elections. And each county/region should have a representative from
each political party or independent candidate to represent that region
or county. And their names, photographs, and political party, or
candidacy Must be shown on all ballots, so that voters are able to
recognize who they are voting for.
And the president will have the responsibility to announce the
national elections as part of his/her responsibility, at least six
months before the date prescribed in the National Constitution. And
the dissolution of Parliament some time before, in order to give them
or anyone adequate time to declare their intent to contest, and to
canvass for the Presidency, the Vice President, Regional and National
Offices, but not both.
Terms In Office:
No President or Prime Minister should be allowed to serve more than
two five year terms consecutively. The same applies to the Elected
members of Parliament too. And these term limits can only be valid
from the national electorate votes at the general elections. And these
national or general elections Must be held every five years.
Candidates Electoral Debates:
I also believe that at least TWO debates should be agreed upon by all
candidates involved, to be held at an agreed Public Forum, and at a
convenient time agreed upon also. These debates MUST be monitored by
some politically neutral person that all the candidates agree to have
do so. And with live Internet, Radio, and Television coverage
instantaneously. The cost of these TWO debates Must be covered by the
state, as an incentive for the Democratic process, and the
commonweal's information and enlightenment.
Derryck S. Griffith.
NYC.
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