GEORGETOWN, Guyana – President Irfaan Ali has reiterated his government’s commitment to upholding democracy and the rule of law as the country prepares for regional and general elections next year.
President Irfaan Ali addressing the 46th Conference of the Caribbean, the Americas, and the Atlantic Region of the Commonwealth Parliamentary AssociationAddressing the 46th Conference of the Caribbean, the Americas, and the Atlantic Region of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), Ali underscored the importance of free and fair elections that he said laid the foundation for a strong democratic system.
“It is common knowledge that Guyana’s political evolution has been marred by the perversion of democratic rule for almost three decades, followed by the restoration of democracy and then an aborted attempt to subvert democratic elections,” Ali told delegates to the conference that ends on Saturday.
“During those challenging days, years and decades, when democracy came under threat and became non-existent, Guyana’s economy faltered. Poverty deepened, and outward migration intensified. Our economy went into a tailspin,” he said, noting the political solution to this situation involved advocating for a return to democratic principles through free and fair elections and a renewed focus on development.
“Our experience underscores a fundamental truth. Democracy is just not a political system; it is the engine that drives development, and that is what we must understand. Democracy is not a political commitment. Democracy is not confined to [any] political definition. Democracy is that engine that drives development,” Ali added.
But in his address to the conference, Opposition A Partnership for National Unity+Alliance For Change (APNU+AFC) legislator, Ganesh Mahipaul said one of the most significant challenges facing modern parliaments is the erosion of public trust.
He spoke of scandals, corruption, and the perception that elected officials are more interested in self-preservation than public service have contributed to widespread cynicism.
“This loss of faith in parliamentary institutions undermines the legitimacy of democracy itself. When people feel that their voices are not being heard or that their representatives are disconnected from their realities, voter apathy increases, and the very fabric of democracy begins to fray,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the Opposition Leader, Aubrey Norton, who is overseas, Mahipaul said that parliamentarians need to find ways of working closely together and recommended that the 46th CPA Conference develop a model approach for greater bipartisan involvement of parliaments in negotiating agreements.
“This might involve strengthening regional cooperation, ensuring that international agreements are negotiated with parliamentary oversight, and creating frameworks that allow for greater control over the impacts of globalization,” he said.
The conference is being held under the theme “Democracy: Challenges Facing Modern Parliaments”.
CPA Chairman, Arthur Holder, who is also the Speaker of the Barbados Parliament, urged the conference to “examine with purpose” several areas of urgent concern including strengthening parliamentary security.
“What have we done to improve security for parliamentarians inside and outside of parliament? Are we going to wait until some of our parliamentarians are assassinated before we actually take vital steps to improve security?”
Holder also questioned how many parliaments want to strengthen the Public Accounts Committees and expand Select Committees to strengthen transparency and accountability and corruption, use artificial intelligence to counter misinformation, inclusivity of women and disabled persons.
He urged Caribbean parliamentarians to work together to improve the functioning of their houses and unitedly counteract global challenges.
Holder said when delegates return home, they should use the lessons from conferences such as this one to ultimately benefit their populations because evidence indicates that people are losing faith in politicians.
“When we get back home, what have we done to improve our parliamentary processes for the benefit of all? That is what we need to d0 to make our parliaments more effective and more meaningful so as to regain the trust of our populace. Until and unless we do that, politicians will be of no use to the countries.
“If you look on a daily basis, on a yearly basis, people have become apathetic as it relates to voting. Look at the elections often times, you would see that there are decreases in persons who vote,” Holder said, appealing to delegates to do what is right for the people who have elected parliamentarians.
