Guyana's Electoral System Of Governance Reform Ideas!

http://mimbari.livejournal.com/122329.html
http://guyanaatthecrossroads.blogspot.com/2011/02/guyanas-electoral-system-of-governance.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Guyana

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 Minister:

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.

The Right To Vote:

The right to exercise one's franchise or vote is a human and Democratic right. And must be respected, and protected wherever it is institutionalized, and advocated for wherever it is absent too. In some countries/states, the commonweal is not obliged to do so mandatory. And this can cause certain segments of the population who usually vote a certain way, to have their candidate re-elected several times over, because of the general lack of interest, or abstaining from voting.

Therefore, in order to prevent this type of presumption from re-occurring, voting should be made MANDATORY by Legislation immediately. To ensure a more unanimous outcome at the general elections.

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.

The Right To Bear Arms Or Form Neighborhood Watch Groups:

February 07-2011.

The Right To Bear Arms Or Form Neighborhood Watch Groups:

GUYANA:

We have been experiencing a dramatic rise in criminal activities, murder, rape, and other brutal incidences within our communities.

Hitherto, we expected the Police to respond to calls promptly, pursue suspects expeditiously, and subsequently bring them to Justice. But this traditional responsibility of our institutionalized Police Force has waned to the point of a total lack of Police Protection PERIOD.

The Police in recent decades have been used by the political administration in power to rig elections, kill opponents, kill escaped prisoners of all persuasions, and used for Internal Oppression by the state.

So what is the solution?

Several applicable solutions are listed hereunder:

a. Organize Neighborhood Watch Groups to protect one's immediate environment.

b. These can be residents who are willing to volunteer time to keep watch during the night. And report any abnormal activity, or trouble seeking stranger/s in the neighborhood, or even apprehend and hold any criminal, terrorist, or individual who is hell bent on disturbing the peace in that neighborhood, until the police arrives.

b. Of course, these Neighborhood Watch groups MUST work in co-operation with the Police Station in their neighborhoods, get the necessary approval, advice, and emergency mobile radios, to keep when on neighborhood duty.

c. This idea can be discussed with the City Police departments, and/with the approval of the Ministry/Minister Of Home Affairs too.

All of the above ideas MUST be considered in order to assist our local Police, and help us all be safe in our Homes, Neighborhoods, and Public spaces.

Derryck.
NYC.