MERCY MUST BE TEMPERED WITH JUSTICE

The Advisory Committee, recently appointed by the President, has constitutional responsibility only in relation to persons who have been sentenced to death. But article 190 of the Constitution, which provides for its functions, omits to state what exactly in relation to the sentence of death the Advisory Council is to advise on, even though as […]

THE CULTURE OF DOMINANCE IN GUYANA’S POLITICS

The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo, told the press that he and Minister of Social Cohesion, Minister Amna Ally, with the objective of resolving the political impasse that occurred as a result of the PPP and APNU obtaining an equal number of seats in five NDCs and one township elections, had agreed that […]

THE BRIAN TIWARI AFFAIR

President Granger’s swift and decisive action, tersely announced, to terminate the appointment of Mr. Brian Tiwari as a government adviser on business, dramatized an event that has titillated the political classes and has energized the media. It is clear that the President allows his officials enough latitude to get on with the job but that […]

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Once upon a time, during the colonial era, Guyana had a local government system that functioned. It emerged from the establishment of village democracy in estates purchased by freed slaves. It did not cover all of Guyana and its functions were limited. But legislation throughout the 20th century improved and expanded the local government and […]

CAMP STREET WAS A TRAGEDY WAITING TO HAPPEN

There are approximately 2,000 prisoners in the five facilities in Georgetown, New Amsterdam, Mazaruni, Lusignan and Timehri. Of these 35 percent is on remand awaiting trial. The Georgetown Prison at Camp Street was designed to accommodate 600 prisoners but holds nearly 1,000. Violent incidents or escapes have occurred in Georgetown, New Amsterdam and Mazaruni in […]