Friday June 15, 2012
Kaieteur News
Page 5
Letters... Where your views make the news Letters... Where your views make the news
The people make the constitution work DEAR EDITOR: A constitution is dead at its heart unless it is activated by the people. This nation benefitted from significant constitutional reform in the post 1997 elections with millions of dollars spent and the citizens involved in the process through widest consultations. Yet we continue to hear calls for constitutional change by the very lawmakers and public officials who played a role in modifying the Constitution, have failed to give it a chance to work, or use the judicial arm of government to test it in our “collective quest to create the perfect nation,” as per the Preamble in this very Constitution. Instead we are witnessing constitutional violations by elected officials or delivery of substandard service under the guise that the Constitution hinders better performance. Regardless of what one may think, the Constitution is paramount and it must be honoured and respected by every citizen, bar none. This country needs to see those placed in position of privilege use this instrument in defence and protection of the citizens. In its present form the Constitution gives the citizens the protection of their fundamental rights and freedoms, makes clear the demarcation of the separation of power, mandates guidelines for accountability by public officials, and outlines how the nation’s resources should be
managed, which offers a good starting point to get to work. And persons must be held accountable to these standards! The Court is once again asked by the PPP to adjudicate on a legislative decision - the 2012 Budget cuts- and this augurs well for the nation. As per our Constitution it is the judiciary responsibility to pronounce on the interpretation of the law and it must be allowed to work. This parliament strengthens the independence and the check and balance of each branch of government- executive, legislature and judiciaryand more so enhances their diverse views. In so doing, when refined, this will provide a better product to move the process of governance further. Governance is about politics and politics is about people and people’s development. Unfortunately as the PPP activates its propaganda that the framers of the Constitution never intended for the parliament to have such oversight over the executive, it ignores critical components of the framers’ intent. The framers did not make the president the supreme authority of the land as the PPP tells this nation; they made the president the “supreme executive authority” (Article 89). Two, the framers made parliament the nation’s supreme organ (Article 50), placing the power back into the hands of the people, to chart a course for their collective development.
NOT THIS MOHAN DEAR EDITOR, RE: Letter to the Editor article, “ Ramotar follows a most misguided course of action,” Kaieteur News, May 23, 2012 The above referenced letter has caused me to be demonized by some, praised by others and accused of being a member of the AFC. This is a result of the letter being signed by a, C. Mohan, Guyanese Patriot. Let me make it perfectly clear, I am not a member of the AFC or any other political party in Guyana. I do not deny being a Guyanese patriot but I am definitely not the author of this letter. I will not take credit, accept praise or be demonized for something I did not do. The confusion begins because my name is Chuck Mohan. As a political and labor activist in New York for over thirty-seven years and one of the original members of the PPP group in New York, everyone will associate Chuck Mohan, C. Mohan or any variation of the name with me. This is not to say
that someone else could not have the same initials as mine. It is obvious that this is the confusion with this letter. Over the past several years I have criticized and praised the PPP administration in the newspaper and on the radio in New York. The PPP leadership is well aware of this. I also criticized the PNC. I use my name Chuck Mohan, never C. Mohan. I never have and never will hide behind an initial to say what I have to say. Everyone who knows me knows that I speak my mind publicly without fear. I am requesting that since your newspaper is aware of all those who send letters to your newspaper for publication, that you confirm in your newspaper that Chuck Mohan is not the C. Mohan, author of the letter referenced. This can be verified based on the origin of the letter by e-mail, fax, mail etc. I am also requesting you publish this letter in the Kaieteur News. I await your reply In Solidarity Chuck Mohan
As such ours become the responsibility and duty to make it work and we must at all times seek to do so! The Leader of the Opposition, David Granger, is urged to rethink his calls for the president to act on various issues, since the responsibility also lies with him to address the areas he seeks the president’s involvement, and which can be achieved via the parliament. The opposition should also examine the establishment of parliamentary commissions to investigate public officials’ conduct and the management of state entities. The much awaited inquiry into the 2002-2006 mayhem, plundering of state resources, scams, scandals, and denial of citizens’ constitutional rights are areas deserving of attention and strident action. Our collective wellbeing is vested and protected in the Constitution which remains our single most important instrument to hold all accountable in furtherance of equitable development and peaceful co-existence. Achieving this requires an ever vigilant civil society and activist parliament. Together this nation can and must succeed! Lincoln Lewis
The weaknesses in the Education system
DEAR EDITOR, The Ministry of Education will continue to do Region Six great injustice if this visionless Education Department is left to manage. It is no secret that a crisis has developed in Region Six. This rising incompetence displayed by those entrusted by the Ministry of Education to manage the delivery of Education is sickening and leads to decreased output and increased illiteracy. Sometimes you have to let these education officers know when they are doing things contrary and for this they target you. My conclusion is drawn from the following: 1. This is the only region with medically unfit educators; where teachers absent too often from the schools. I am not talking about release to attend UG or CPCE but the abuse of sick leaves. The Medical Board should be put to task because something just does not seem right. Long ago this was never so. 2. At the GTU Branch meeting I heard from a head teacher that a graduate senior teacher of Corriverton Primary applied for Whitley Council
Unqualified pharmacists DEAR EDITOR, Some time back in your newspapers I vividly recalled that you carried an article featuring a Vishwamintra Persaud who was charged and remanded to prison for allegedly selling Pharmaceuticals without being a registered Pharmacist. While this matter is still engaging the attention of the Courts I want to make it clear that Mr. Persaud is not the only one that maybe involved in this practice. Instead of the Ministry of Health or the relevant authorities going after just one person, Mr. Persaud in this case, they should launch a countrywide campaign to curb this illegal practice. Most times I would enter a Pharmacy I will see some very incompetent person(s) dispensing drugs to the public. There is supposed to be on display in the pharmacy a certificate of the Pharmacist but most of these drug stores or pharmacies do not have that on display. Instead what you can find is a Pharmacist certificate of the owner of the Pharmacy who most of the times is a qualified pharmacist. However, he or she is often not there, which leaves us the public at the mercy of these highly incompetent individuals who at some point in time I’m almost sure must have given a wrong
medication to someone. Matter of fact, very recently I went into a drug store to purchase a bottle of Tussadryl multi symptoms. To my amusement when I asked the individual over the counter if she had that kind of Tussadryl she said yes and handed me a bottle of Tussadryl cough and cold instead. Now if she is going to make such a mistake on a simple over-the-counter drug then imagine what will she do later on? My take is that instead of going after one individual and allowing it to look as if it is something personal against Mr Persaud it is more ideal to launch a countrywide campaign and justify your actions. In this way we will have the right people to do the job because we cannot afford to have inexperienced persons making mistakes with people’s lives. Randy Persaud
Leave in October last year to proceed on leave in January. To this date she has not got the approval and the Whitley Council allowance. The teacher should just sue the Department of Education. 3. I recall when Leon Suseran, a journalist attached to Kaieteur News, reported on the shortage of furniture at a school in New Amsterdam at the beginning of the school year (2011-2012) he got the fire from Mrs. Bhajan, the Regional Education Officer. 4. The unfortunate situation with Ms. Hackim at Skeldon Primary School is another sordid story which exposed the inadequacy of the Department of Education. I am of the view that if the Ministry of Education had intervened there would have been a different turn to this ugly scenario. 5. Look how the Department of Education slumbered with the incident with the ‘cussing teacher’ at Sheet Anchor Primary School. The teacher ‘cuss down’ the Grade Five pupils, parents complained to the Ministry of Education and got no satisfaction. 6. Consider the cowboy school, Skeldon High Annexe, by the # 79 market, which is managed by a retiree, and has no connection with the real Skeldon High School. They don’t even wear the
same uniform and that school since run by that retiree, hasn’t participated in Athletics Sports for about four years now. 7. Incompetence is the order of the day in Region Six. Many instances, persons who can’t function are placed in senior positions and they literally mess up children’s lives. 8. Another burning issue is the Preliminary Promotion List that is circulating all over the country. This promotion business is flawed. Every year some teachers get promotion in Region Six. Some teachers have ‘connections’ with high ranking TSC officials. The appointment committee is in possession of the same criteria that guided teachers to apply for senior appointments. I certainly did not misinterpret criteria A and B for promotion as head of Grade B Primary Schools. What I find with this region is that these education officers slumber a lot. They focus more on moving from school to school to belittle teachers than doing their work properly. Some even getting fat on the job. Honourable Minister of Education please do not allow your efforts to go wasted. Amit Jaisingh