Request of Hon. Carl B. Greenidge, M.P. for the Speaker to Give Approval for the Matter of the Estimates of Expenditures of Entities Mentioned in Article 222 A of the Constitution Not To Be Consider

Ruling

By way of letter dated April 13, 2013, the Hon. Member Mr. Carl B. Greenidge, M.P., wrote me to point out that the format of the presentation of Estimates for certain constitutional entities was in error. (See letter attached)  More specifically, Mr. Greenidge advanced the argument that except for the Ethnic Relations Commission and the Audit Office, the estimates for the Judiciary and other Rights Commissions were not presented as a “block or lump sum allocation”.  This, in the opinion of the Hon. Mr. Greenidge, offends the requirements of Articles 222A, 122(2), 151(3), 226(7), 212 9(3) and 226(1) of the Constitution- both in letter and in spirit.

Without hesitation, I state that I agree with the Hon. Member Carl B. Greenidge, M.P., that the framers of these very important Constitutional entities intended that they all would be independent of, and insulated from, political or other direction and/or control. Further, I agree that the Estimates for these entities should be placed as a “lump sum”. 

I have noted the assurances given by the Hon. Minister of Finance that these matters remain under active consideration by the Government of Guyana, and that the Government is open to examining new representations to be submitted; this notwithstanding the advice that says that the present format does not “collide” with the constitutional requirements. I note as well that the present format has been accepted by previous Parliaments and that several Members of the 7th, 8th and 9th Parliaments are also Members of the 10th; and are familiar with the present format. Further, I am advised that this matter was raised in the inter-party dialogue in 2012 and there is an expectation that it will be carried forth in the Constitution Review Committee.