In the first issue of the Current Affairs supplement of Stabroek News edited by Mr Patrick Denny, two backbenchers were highlighted [ please note: link provided by LOSP web site ], Mr Ramesh Raj-coomar one of the two PPP/C regional MPs for Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne) and Mr Ricky Khan, the PNC/R regional MP for Region One (Barima/Waini). Both had interesting tales to tell.

Mr Rajcoomar is a 38 year old attorney-at-law with a practice in the Berbice area. He took a political science course at the University of Guyana while reading for a degree in Applied Chemistry and that whetted his appetite. His involvement in active politics started in 1990 with the GUARD movement (as did that of Prime Minister Sam Hinds) and he played a minor role through the Civic component of the PPP in the 1992 elections. In 1994 he entered the New Amsterdam Town Council as one of the four PPP/C councillors. He lost his seat inadvertently for missing three consecutive meetings. He was later asked to stand as a PPP/C regional candidate for the 2001 elections.

As a regional MP Mr Rajcoomar said that he is mainly responsible for the area extending from Borlam Turn to Mara and visits the area at least once a month. He has also been called on to look at problems in other areas such as Port Mourant and Black Bush Polder. Most of the problems brought to his attention are the deteriorating roads and drainage and irrigation.

As a MP besides representing the concerns of his constituency to the relevant ministers, he said that he has a general interest in laws that are regulatory such as the Pharmacy Act and the Maritime Surveillance Act.

Mr Ricky Khan got part of his education in England and was abroad there for some time. He returned to Guyana in 1978, tried his hand as a porkknocker and when his father died in 1982 he took over the family business.

Mr Khan told Stabroek Current Affairs that economic development in his region was at a standstill as a result of the border controversy with Venezuela. As a consequence, residents were leaving for other areas. “Nothing is happening in the region. There is no border area trade with Venezuela”. He suggested that a ferry service was needed between the region and San Felix in Venezuela where some 50,000 Guyanese reside to stimulate trade between the two countries

Mr Khan explained that the Guyanese in San Felix had moved there from the Essequibo Coast, Pomeroon and the North-West District in the 1970s and there are also second and third generation Guyanese, born and living there.

Mr Khan said he became interested in politics in London where he had participated in demonstrations and protest marches. He became active in the PNC when the late Desmond Hoyte lost the presidency at the 1992 elections. He was sad, he said, that a man who had worked so hard had lost and he decided to work for him. He joined the party and in 1994 was elected Regional Chairman. He became a Regional MP after the 2001 elections.

He said that as a parliamentarian he had realised that parliamentarians, both on the governing and opposition benches, had a lot of work to do and a long way to go to improve the lot of the Guyanese people. He was not impressed with the provisions available for Regional MPs, especially those from Regions 1, 8 (Potaro/Siparuni) and 9 (Upper Essequibo/Upper Takatu), likening them to giving a man a fancy house and not giving him enough money or the means to pay the electricity bill.

Mr Khan told Current Affairs he was a supporter of the Jagdeo-Corbin dialogue, as he believed that it was good for the country. He said that Mr Corbin as the new PNC/R leader had to put the past behind him and turn over a new leaf. He had to make a decision that would enure to the benefit of the Guyanese people. However, Khan made the point that a dialogue without results being realised in a timely manner made no sense and said that in that case the PNC/R might have to turn to demonstrations.

Like all parliamentarians other than ministers of government these men have to make a living. They have to find time out of their busy lives to attend parliament when it is in session. Given the increased powers of parliament, and the possibility that they may end up sitting on one of the new committees (Mr Rajcoomar is already a member of the Constitution Review Committee) it is clear that the salaries of parliamentarians will have to be increased to accommodate their increased responsibilities and the effect this may have on their earning power. Whatever the limitations of particular parliamentarians, it must be recognised that they do have to devote a fair amount of their time to parliamentary and party activities for a monetary return that is much less than a market salary.

Both of these men can clearly make a useful contribution in the National Assembly and it is a pity that they are not heard from more often. Indeed it is usually the case that backbenchers only get a look in during the debate on the annual budget and briefly on other occasions. It is a pity as Regional MPs in particular could shed light on the situation in their respective areas. Parliament tends to focus on the capital and its problems.

The regional system was put forward rather hastily and was not a great success. Indeed some of the functions allocated to it have since had to be taken back by the central government. But regional representation in parliament can be valuable, representing as it does a kind of compromise with the old constituency system which encouraged members of parliament to relate directly to their constituents and to be responsible to them. Proportional representation and the list system has taken some of the local flavour out of politics and strengthened the power of the party bureaucrats.