Dear Editor,
I note the response of the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance on the matter of the non-constitution of the Human Rights Commission, and I can only deduce from her remarks that she is either pretending to miss the point of my letter or that she genuinely does not comprehend what was being asked of her.
No one is disputing the value of education. Any effort to build civic awareness and promote respect for rights is welcome. What we cannot do is pretend that educational programmes can replace constitutional mechanisms, especially a fully constituted Human Rights Commission with the legal authority to investigate, act, and adjudicate human rights violations.
The critique I made, and will now reassert, is simple: the Human Rights Commission is a constitutional mandate, not a discretionary activity. Its non-existence fundamentally undermines Guyana’s ability to protect citizens’ rights and to hold state institutions accountable. The repeated attempt to showcase human rights “initiatives” and workshops as evidence of commitment is not governance; it is political theatre. What the country needs is not more ceremonies, but the constitutional body that the law requires.
We all recall the President waxing lyrical when asked about the reconvening of Parliament, declaring, and I quote, “You can trust the PPP/C Government to do everything within the Constitution.” Well, Mr President, and Madam Minister, respect for the Constitution cannot be selective. It cannot apply only when convenient. The Constitution requires not only that Parliament be reconvened on time, but also that all constitutional bodies be established, functional, and free from political interference. It demands separation of powers, enforceable checks and balances, and oversight institutions that actually work.
Now that the Minister has detailed the process for the appointment of the Human Rights Commission, one that is clear, straightforward, and certainly not complicated, perhaps she can now inform the nation of the timeline by which the PPP Government intends to fully constitute this Commission. Especially since their Speaker, Mr Manzoor Nadir, is determined not to call the meeting for the elections of the Leader of the Opposition, which is necessary to this process.