UG gets $5M for Constitutional Reform education
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− Constitutional Reform Education project a collaboration among OPM, UNDP and UG
− Constitutional Reform is not for “sloganeering” – PM Nagamootoo
− “It’s a journey, that is not a sprint but it’s a marathon and along marathons, there are important milestones, and this is an important milestone.” – Prof. Griffith
DPI, Guyana, Thursday, September 27, 2018
The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) today handed over $5M to the University of Guyana (UG) as funding for Constitutional Reform education.
UG’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ivelaw Griffith received the cheque from Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo this morning at the OPM.
The Constitutional Reform Education programme is a collaboration between the OPM, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the University of Guyana.
Prime Minister Nagamootoo explained that constitutional reform is not for “sloganeering” nor should it be used as an electioneering platform.
“What I see happening is an attempt by politicians, when it is convenient to politicians, to talk about Constitutional Reform outside of the context of what it means to the ordinary person, whether or not the ordinary person understands the Constitution,” PM Nagamootoo stated.
Politics, the Prime Minister noted, is often used as a purveyor of divisiveness rather than fostering unity, even in the case of constitutional reform, which should be seen as a good for the society.
He then pointed to UG’s role in making the constitution more relatable for the wider public.
The OPM and UNDP have been working on the project document for some time and UG has been included at this juncture as education is part of its remit.
UNDP Resident Representative, Mikiko Tanaka said after a 2016 mission, it was determined that consensus across political parties and public education were the two pillars of constitutional reform.
She noted that “any discussion around reforming would require that understanding of what is in the Constitution or what is lacking or what needs to be changed.”
UNICEF engaged UG, the OPM, Civil Society groups and other stakeholders in the process.
Professor Griffith noted his satisfaction with the university’s role in the process. “It’s a journey, that is not a sprint but it’s a marathon and along marathons, there are important milestones, and this is an important milestone,” he noted.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Barbara Reynolds said a survey and the education awareness programme will extend beyond the Coastland to ensure Guyanese from all regions are involved.
Under the Coalition administration, the Constitutional Reform Consultative Commission Bill was laid in Parliament in July 2017.
The Bill identifies 100 communities in each administrative region for consultations and hearings to be conducted by the Constitution Reform Commission, with a view that “no one be left behind.”
As an extension of the Constitutional Reform Education programme, OPM will print 500 copies of the Constitution which will be handed over to schools and Toshaos across the country. This will be done before the close of 2018.
By Stacy Carmichael.
Images: Keno George.