While Guyana’s Parliamentary Standing Orders are silent on the conduct of a sitting member of the assembly outside of a session of the legislative assembly, common sense, decency, convention and precedent dictates that members should act on all occasions in accordance with the public trust placed in them.
Guyana derives its parliamentary practices from centuries of tradition founded by the United Kingdom and the written and unwritten rules guiding those legislators—some of whom are referred to as Lords—prescribe that by virtue of the oath, or affirmation, of allegiance taken by all Members when they are elected to the House, that they have a duty to uphold the law, including the general law against discrimination.
Members have a general duty to act in the interests of the nation as a whole and a special duty to their constituents and should always behave with probity and integrity.
A recent outburst, albeit on a digital social platform has since called into question the integrity and public trust placed in a sitting Member of Parliament—the People’s Progressive Party’s Nigel Dharamlall.
Many in recent years have sought to make the argument that one’s use of his/her personal Facebook or social media platform should not be construed as a professional position but this is a farce.
An elected Parliamentarian sits in the National Assembly representing thousands of persons and despite not being full time Parliamentarians can never argue not wearing their parliamentary cloak at any time.
Parliamentarians are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that is beyond reproach since they are at all times held to a higher standard than that of the average citizens.
This brings into question, Dharamlall’s suitability to represent the interest of the thousands in whose place he sits in the highest decision-making forum in the land.
Just under half of the Guyanese population did not vote for President Granger and the APNU/AFC coalition Government but our democratic system of proportional representation has made him the President of all Guyanese—an office that has to be respected.
This sentiment was espoused recently by no less a person than that of former President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana now Opposition Leader Dr Bharrat Jagdeo.
He recently made his position known that irrespective of personal feelings and opinions the Office of the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana must be respected at all times.
Jagdeo himself was forced to chastise his colleague Parliamentarian but is a public upbraid enough?
Should the Opposition Leader find that Dharamlall, as a result of his most recent outburst be found unfit and proper to represent his constituents?
Should the Opposition Leader not then inform the Speaker of the National Assembly that Dharamlall’s seat is vacant? In short, should Dharamlall be fired?
This is not Dharamlall’s first infraction. In addition to his now infamous and routine Facebook outbursts against the sitting administration, Dharamlall only recently escaped prosecution over an incident with a staffer of the Inter-American Development Bank.
The PPP has over the years come in for rebuke over the actions of some of its members.
The PPP is gearing to host its congress in a matter of weeks and no doubt contesting for leadership positions will push some to up the ante and rhetoric but this however must never overshadow the basic tenets of what is expected of those in leadership. Especially those elected to hold a seat in the highest decision-making forum of the land in the Hallowed Chambers of the National Assembly.
The members of the PPP and the eyes of the nation are fixed firmly on the PPP and its leadership now that its congress is a matter of weeks away.
Opposition Leader Jagdeo must act and deal with Dharamlall to send a clear signal that such behaviour is unacceptable to the PPP.
