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What is
Democracy? It is something Guyana does not have!
Democracy consists of four basic elements:
- A political system for choosing and
replacing the government through free and fair elections.
2.
The active participation of the people, as citizens, in politics and
civic life.
3. Protection of
the human rights of all citizens.
4. A rule of law,
in which the laws and procedures apply equally to all citizens.
I.
Democracy as a Political System of Competition for Power
Democracy is a means for the people to
choose their leaders and to hold their leaders accountable for
their policies and their conduct in office.
The people decide who will represent them
in parliament, and who will head the government at the national
and local levels. They do so by choosing between competing
parties in regular, free and fair elections.
Government is based on the consent of the
governed.
In a democracy, the people are
sovereign—they are the highest form of political authority.
Power flows from the people to the leaders
of government, who hold power only temporarily.
Laws and policies require majority support
in parliament, but the rights of minorities are protected in
various ways.
The people are free to criticize their elected leaders and
representatives, and to observe how they conduct the business of
government.
Elected representatives at the national and
local levels should listen to the people and respond to their
needs and suggestions.
Elections have to occur at regular
intervals, as prescribed by law. Those in power cannot extend
their terms in office without asking for the consent of the
people again in an election.
For elections to be free and fair, they
have to be administered by a neutral, fair, and professional
body that treats all political parties and candidates equally.
All parties and candidates must have the
right to campaign freely, to present their proposals to the
voters both directly and through the mass media.
Voters must be able to vote in secret, free
of intimidation and violence.
Independent observers must be able to
observe the voting and the vote counting to ensure that the
process is free of corruption, intimidation, and fraud.
There needs to be some impartial and
independent tribunal to resolve any disputes about the election
results.
This is why it takes a lot of time to
organize a good, democratic election.
Any country can hold an election, but for
an election to be free and fair requires a lot of organization,
preparation, and training of political parties, electoral
officials, and civil society organizations who monitor the
process.
II.
Participation: The Role of the Citizen in A Democracy
The key role of citizens in a
democracy is to participate in public life.
Citizens have an obligation to
become informed about public issues, to watch carefully
how their political leaders and representatives use
their powers, and to express their own opinions and
interests.
Voting in elections is another
important civic duty of all citizens.
But to vote wisely, each citizen
should listen to the views of the different parties and
candidates, and then make his or her own decision on
whom to support.
Participation can also involve
campaigning for a political party or candidate, standing
as a candidate for political office, debating public
issues, attending community meetings
and membership civic meetings, petitioning the
government, and even protesting
A vital form of participation comes
through active membership in independent,
non-governmental organizations, what we call “civil
society.”
These organizations represent a
variety of interests and beliefs: farmers, workers,
doctors, teachers, business owners, religious believers,
women, students, human rights activists.
It is important that women
participate fully both in politics and in civil
society.
This requires efforts by civil
society organizations to educate women about their
democratic rights and responsibilities, improve their
political skills, represent their common interests, and
involve them in political life.
In a democracy, participation in
civic groups should be voluntary. No one should be
forced to join an organization against their will.
Political parties are vital
organizations in a democracy, and democracy is stronger
when citizens become active members of political
parties.
However, no one should support a
political party because he is pressured or threatened by
others. In a democracy, citizens are free to choose
which party to support.
Democracy depends on citizen
participation in all these ways. But participation must
be peaceful, respectful of the law, and tolerant of the
different views of other groups and individuals
III. The Rights of Citizens in a Democracy
In a democracy, every citizen
has certain basic rights that the state cannot take
away from them.
These rights are guaranteed
under international law.
You have the right to have your
own beliefs, and to say and write what you think.
No one can tell you what you
must think, believe, and say or not say.
There is freedom of religion.
Everyone is free to choose their own religion and to
worship and practice their religion as they see
fit.
Every individual has the right
to enjoy their own culture, along with other members
of their group, even if their group is a minority.
There is freedom and pluralism
in the mass media.
You can choose between
different sources of news and opinion to read in the
newspapers, to hear on the radio, and to watch on
television.
You have the right to associate
with other people, and to form and join
organizations of your own choice, including trade
unions.
You are free to move about the
country, and if you wish, to leave the country.
You have the right to assemble
freely, and to protest government actions.
However, everyone has an
obligation to exercise these rights peacefully, with
respect for the law and for the rights of others.
IV. The Rule of
Law
Democracy is a system of
rule by laws, not by individuals.
In a democracy, the rule of
law protects the rights of citizens, maintains
order, and limits the power of government.
All citizens are equal
under the law. No one may be discriminated
against on the basis of their race, religion,
ethnic group, or gender.
No one may be arrested,
imprisoned, or exiled arbitrarily.
If you are detained, you
have the right to know the charges against you,
and to be presumed innocent until proven guilty
according to the law.
Anyone charged with a crime
has the right to a fair, speedy, and public
trial by an impartial court.
No one may be taxed or
prosecuted except by a law established in
advance.
No one is above the law,
not even a king or an elected president.
The law is fairly,
impartially, and consistently enforced, by
courts that are independent of the other
branches of government.
Torture and cruel and
inhumane treatment are absolutely forbidden.
The rule of law places
limits on the power of government. No government
official may violate these limits.
No ruler, minister, or
political party can tell a judge how to decide a
case.
Office holders cannot use
their power to enrich themselves. Independent
courts and commissions punish corruption, no
matter who is guilty.
V. The
Limits and Requirements for Democracy
If democracy is to
work, citizens must not only participate and
exercise their rights. They must also
observe certain principles and rules of
democratic conduct.
People must respect the
law and reject violence. Nothing ever
justifies using violence against your
political opponents, just because you
disagree with them.
Every citizen must
respect the rights of his or her fellow
citizens, and their dignity as human
beings.
No one should denounce
a political opponent as evil and
illegitimate, just because they have
different views.
People should question
the decisions of the government, but not
reject the government’s authority.
Every group has the
right to practice its culture and to have
some control over its own affairs, but each
group should accept that it is a part of a
democratic state.
When you express your
opinions, you should also listen to the
views of other people, even people you
disagree with. Everyone has a right to be
heard.
Don’t be so convinced
of the rightness of your views that you
refuse to see any merit in another
position. Consider different interests and
points of view.
When you make demands,
you should understand that in a democracy,
it is impossible for everyone to achieve
everything they want.
Democracy requires
compromise. Groups with different interests
and opinions must be willing to sit down
with one another and negotiate.
In a democracy, one
group does not always win everything it
wants. Different combinations of groups win
on different issues. Over time, everyone
wins something.
If one group is always
excluded and fails to be heard, it may turn
against democracy in anger and frustration.
Everyone who is willing
to participate peacefully and respect the
rights of others should have some say in the
way the country is governed.
Now that you
have read what a True Democracy is, are you
ready for Guyana to take this step to
Freedom from the oppression it is now under?
Please
remember what the Peoples Democratic Party
stands for is what you just read, and we
will be waiting for your vote in the 2011
Guyana Presidential Elections
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