Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698076468840.pdf (Guyana)
1479 1480 LEGISLATIVE GOUNCIL Nominated Mr. T. Lee linofficials :­ (Constituted (Constitution) under the British (Temporary Guiana) P1·ovisions) Mr. E. F. Correia Order in Council, 1958).

WEDNESDAY, 9TH JANUARY, 1957 Rev.

D. C. J. Bobb Mr. H. Rahaman Miss Gertie H. Collins The Council met at 2 p.m. Mrs. Esther E. Dey PRESENT: Clc1·k of the Legislatitre­ Mr.

I. Crum Ewing.

His Honow· the Speaker Sir Eustace Gordon Woolford, O.B.E., Q.C.

Absent: Assistant Clerk of the Legislatur e­ J.\fr.
B. M. Viapree (Ag.)

Members : l!,'x-Officio Mr. J. I. Ramphal-on leave.

The Hon.

the Chief Secretary, Mr. F. D. Jalc�way, C.M.G., O.B.E.

Mr. W. A. Phang -on leave.

Q.C.

Mr. L. A. Luckhoo, The Hon.

the Attorney l'\fr.

G. M. Farnum (Ag.)

General, Mr. C. A. Carter-on leave.

The Hon.

the Financial Mr. F. W. Essex.

Secretary, Dr. H. A. Fraser-on leave.

Nominated Council The Hon.

Sir Frank l\kDm·id, Members of Executive : C.M.G., ture, Forests, C.B.E.

{l\fornber Lands and Mines).


fo1· Agricul­ fl'Ir.

R. B. Jailal - on leave.

l\lr.

Sugrim Singh Mr. W. T. Lorcl, I.S.0.-on leave.

The Speaker read prayers.

The Hon.

P. A. Cummings (l\fom­ ber for Labour, Health and Housing; The Hon.

W. 0.

R. Kendall (Mem­ ber for Communications and Works).

of the meeting The lVIinutes of the heid on Friday, 21st Decem­ Council ber, 1956, as printed were taken as read and confirmed .

and circulated, The Hon.

G. A .

C. Farnum, O.B.


:K Social Develop­ r Member Welfare and Co-operative ment).

for Local Government, ANNOUNCEMENTS LEA VE TO MEMBERS The Hon.

R B. Gajraj The Hon.

R. C. Tello Mr. Speaker: I regret to have to of so many Mem- announce the absence 1481 A.__nnounccmcnts 9TH JANUARY, 1957.

Government Notices 1482 lMr.

Speaker] bers.

Mr. Ramphal has asked for and bus been given le,rve from ,1th to 15th January.

l\fr.
l\fr.

Phang unfortunately is ill in hospital and has applied for leave from 1st January to 31st March.

D1·.

Fraser and 1\fr.

Jailal have asked to be excused from today's meeting; and Mr. Lord from 8th to 16th Jan­ nary.

:Mr. Carter who usually does no1: get ill ii,; indisposed week t,, recoYer.

and wants a ber, 1!}56.

Schedules Estimates (Development) of November and December, 1956. for the month!!
of Supplementary Mr. Kendall (Member for Com­ munications lay on the table: and Works): I beg to The Official Inland Correspondence (Amendment) Regulations, 1956.

Report on t he Georgetown-Rosigno] Road by Messrs. Scott & Wilson, Kirk­ patrick and Partners, gineers-Sessional Paper No.

11/1956.

Consulting En­ )Ir.

Lee: May I my therefore that vacanties should be filled by Bis Excellency?
Guiana Afrways {Government) British -Proposed ment with British Limited-Sessional Agree­ West Indian Airways Paper No.

13/195!1.

Two-Year Management Mr. Speakfff: 2,. proper intervcn Please, that is not tion at this stage.

GOVERNMENT NOTICES INCREASED FEES FOR RURA!, CONSTABLE!_;; Mr. Lee: 1 beg your pardon.

l\Ir.

Speaker: It is not a question of begging my pardon, it is most irre­ levant.

The Chief Secretary (Mr .

.


Jake­ way): I beg to give notice of the motion standing in my name on the Order Paper; as follows: Mr. Cummings (Member for La­ hour, Health �,ncl Housing): I did not hear the wortls that fell from yom lips just now, but I take it you were speak­ ing o-f the ab!

':ence of Members, and I 111erely want to sny, Sir- Mr. Speaker: I mentioned six absent :i\fomber!':.

not including you.
not including you.

pay­ to tla.e Police Ordinance c onstables laid down in the the fees and allowances ''Whereas able to rural third schedule (Chapter with the provisions 122 of the aforesaid by Resolution No.

XXI dated the 11th of November, 19419; and Ordinance of section 77) were fixed in accordance Whereas items 6 and 8 (d) of the sched­ ule aforesaid tion No.

IX dated the 1st of April, 1954; and were amended by Resolu­ lHr.

lengthy today.
lengthy today.

Cumming·s: Executive Council meeting Vve had a very Whereas it is considered that rural con­ mables, who perform police duties in ac­ cordance with item 6 of-the schedule.

should receive remuneration not Jess than' that which is paid to government watch­ men; and GREETIN�S Whereas it is also considered that the re­ .Mr.

Speaker: I have received from abl'oad and from Mr. M9.cnie Christmas and New Year greetings and good wishes to this Council.
PAPERS LAID contained in relation in item 8 (d) of the to the fees payable to where two or more ser­ on the same day striction s.-:hedule rural constabies vices at·e performed should be removed in order to provide incentive 1Jervices the execution and for their performance pa1·ticularly of more in connexion with of commitment warrants; sex) : I beg The Financial Secretary (Mr. Es­ to ]ay on the table: of Supplementary for the months 0£ November and Decem- Schedules Whereas it is further considered desir� Estimates able that a separate court and for other services at mentioned fee for attendance 1483 Government Notices 9TH JANUARY, mm.
Audit Dept.
Bili 1484 in items 1, 2 and 3 of the schedule be prescribed, the schedule are no longer requfred; and and that items 5 and 7 oi should be abolished as they should Whereas it is provided by section 122 in the abovementioned schedule of the aforesaid Ordinance specified may be varied by resolution erno1· and L�gislative to time: of the Gov­ Council from time that the rates Be it resolved: That this Council in terms of section 122 of the Police Ordinance, Chapter 77, approves ing substituted the said Ordinance:- of the following for the third schedule in be­ of the case or the completion the service.
The account shall be made out by the police.

of (b) In any case under item 2 the of Police may, on Commissioner the recommendation trate, award special not exceeding $5.

of the Magi5- renwneration any ( c) Where any constable receives monthly pay or salary from public revenues, to any fees or allowances this Ordinance, unless the Chief Secretary expressly payment."

he shall not be entitled authorises the undec Tables of Fees anll Allowances Payalllo to Rural Constables Supplementary Estimates.
1.For execution of a warrant of to give notice of the following m-0tions: $ C, The Financial Secretary: I beg commi�ment ...... ......................... "Be it resolved: ........... 1.50 That this Council ap­ 2, For making any arrest where a has warrant of apprehension been issued, or for making any arrest where a warrant has not been issued if the Magistrate considers rest was properly the rlr- made... ..2.00 3.
For preparing a summons if the summons has been initialled by an Officer of Rural Con­ stabul;::.ry or the County Sergeant-Major of Rural Constabttlary proves ,of the Supplementary for the months of November and De­ cember, 195G, totalling have been laid on the table."

$1,377,931.67, which Estimates ''Ee it resolved: That this Council ap­ proves of the Supplementary (Development) ber and December, 1956, totalling $956,178.96, table."
·which have been laid on the for the months of Novem­ Estimates ................................. .............. .1.50 Agreement with B.W.I.A.

4.

For attendance at Court.

..... 2.50 .............. ........ 5.

For executing in the prescribed manner any warrant of dis­ tress or levy or warrant of ejectment, issued by a magistrate or other process ....... 2.00 .......... ....... 6.For performance of police duties l\'lr.
l{endall: I beg to give notice motion : of the following "Be it resolved: Sessional Paper apprnves of the conclusion of the pro­ posed Two-Year Management with British West Indhm Airways, Ltd," That with reference to No 13IUJ56 this Council Agreement to assist the when required police f or the first eight hours or part thereof and 5Gc ner hour for each hour over eigh\ ...................... ....... 3.00 .................. .......... ORDE,R OF THE DAY Audit Department No.

2} (Amendment Bill 7.


Travelling to a con­ allowance stable when engaged in the execution of his duty, on the scale for the tirn e being sanctioned for the police force.

The Financial Secretary: I beg to of the Bill move the second reading intituled: 8.

(a) The allowance specified in item 7 ''An Ordinance Audit Department further to am,�ncl the Ordinance."

shall be in the discretion of tl-111 magistrate, the magistrate at the conclusion and shall be paid by This is a very simple Bill.
Under Ordinance this Colony the existing 1485 A uclit Dept.

9TH JANUARY, 1957.

( A mendtment) Bill 1486 and this is Seu·etary J rFinancial £ 500 :•.
to contribute is authorized year towards the cost of the Office General of the Over­ of the Director sea Audit Department, said to be our share of the cost in the ratio of the Revenue and Expenditure of British Guiana to the total Rev­ enue and Expenditure tories whose accounts the Director of State has now pointed Revenue of some territories others, and s tripped that of certain as a result the cost worked out on the for in the case old basis i s unfair, of many territories, the work wliich has to be done for them costs mc;ch more than their share based only on relative of all the terri­ are audited by General.
The Secretary out that the has out· Revenues and Expenditures.

e Revenue is been un­ taken into account.

A formula has therefo1·e worked out for all the territories der which the comparativ to only one facto1· determine share of cost.

Other fac­ tors such as the amount of work in­ volved have been considered.

Under this new formula, and the Bill seeks to share is fl,000, thi.
'-', and to remove the for­ authorize mer gloss that this was a proportion· ate figure based on British Guiana's Revenue and Expenditure.

British Guiana's The AU.orney General (Mr. acting,: I beg to second the I•'arnum, motion.

Mr. Speaker: Would any Member like to speak on the second reading?

Question put, and agreed to.

(b)the substitution "1957" for in the second line.

the numerals of the numerals "1956", also The Chairman: Does anyone wish to sp-eak on the amendments?

�uestion put, and agreed to.


Clause 1 passed as amended.

Clause 2 and title and enacting clau-se passed as printed, Council resumed.

Secretary The Financial : The Bill with having been passed in Committee two small amendments, I beg to move that it be now read a third time and passed.

The Attorney motion.

second the General : I beg to Question put, and agreed to.

Bill read a third time and passed.


VOLUNTEER (AMENDMENT) BILL The Chief Secretary : I beg to move the second reading of the Bill intituled : ''An Ordinance Ordinance.''
to amend the Volunteer This is just a fol'mal Bill arising from the fact that a new Arm y Act has been passed by the United King­ dom Parliament and it comes into 1st January, operation from Our Volunteer Ordinance several provisions and the object of this Bill is to readjust so that this Ordinance the numbering will refer to the new Army Act and not the old one.

this yea1=-.

refers to in the Army Act The Attorney second the motion.
General : I beg to COUNCIL IN COMMITTEE itself into Com­ the Bill clause by Council resolved mittee to corn,ider clause.

Clanse 1.-Nlwrt title.

The Financial I beg to Secretary: move that this clause be amended by (a)the deletion the numeral in the second line, and of the abbreviation ''No.

2" in the bracket.

and Question put, and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

l487 Representation of !JTH JANUARY, 19,57. the People ( Amdt.)

B,i/l .

1448 Counci,l mittee to clause.


resolved itself into Com­ consider the Bill clause by Cla-use 1.-Short titl!e.

The Chief Secretary : I beg io move that this clause be amended by the substitution for the numerals line, of the numerals "1956" in the secoud ''1957" Question put, and agreed to.

Clause 1 passed as amended.

Clauses 2 and 3 and the title and clause passed AS printed.
enacting careful Mr. Lee : I have always felt that at all It is unfortunate Bill which I have such as this al'e that consideration.

of the Chief Sec­ of which I pro­ we should have a fuller Council times when matters being dehated.

several Members are absent today, as this is a very important requi;res drawn the attention retary to two clause,g and I wil!

pose to move amendments time.


I do do so at the appropriate not lmow if other :Members have studied and but I have done so can only speak on behalf of myself.

l feel certain, however, be1:s would like to make some points on the amendments, would be wiser for us to have a fuller representation they do so.

in the Council when but I think it the Bill that other Mem­ Council resumed.
The Chief Secretary : I beg to a Bill intituled, report from Committee an Ordinance Ordinai'tce, with one amendment, to move that i;t be now read a third time and passed.

to amend the Volunteer and The Attorney General : 1 beg to second the motion.

Question put, and agreed to.

Bill read a third time and passed.


REPRESENTATION OF THI<� PEOPLE BILL Item 3 -Motion by the Chief ::iec­ retary fo1· the second reading Bi1ll intituled of the : "An Ordinance to make provision for of Members of the Legislative the election Council and for purposes connected therewith.''

: I am uot The Chief Secretary will be in the Committee sure how long these Members are go­ Sir.
This is a Bill, it ing to be absent, seems to me, on which the most of the discussion stage rather than on the second read­ ing.

If there is any discussion it I think clauses, would be on individnal today we might have the second reading and if the Council wishes to move into Committee tomorrow is the principle deal with today, clauses.

we can do so.

It of the Dill that we will not the individual Mr. Speaker : Does the hon.

who had risen Member (Mr. Correia) ·wish to say something?

.
.

Mr. Correia: Yes, Sir.

I ·wanted Mr. Speaker: I do not know whether it is possible to conclude the debate on this Bill today.

I should like to know whether it is their wish that after the Chief Secretary this Bill the debate on it should be allowed be adjourned .

to pr"ot:eed or whether This to reply to the Chief Secretary.

is a very important Bill and I would like to speak on it.

It was my intention to ask the Chief Secretary motion until more Members are able to attend and speak on it.
I repeat that this is a very important that it be deferred given.

Bill and I ask for the rea.son to defer the it should moves 1489 Representation of 9TH JANUARY, 1957. the People ( Anidt.)

Bill 1490 Mr. Speaker : Mr. Lee will be absent for six weeks, but Mr. Carkr for only a week.

'fhe Chi.ef Secretary : I really deference we think that would be carrying to hon.

Members too far.

I thought would have deferred the motion until tomorrow, but I had no idea of deferring it until next week.
I shall be absent for a week as from Friday next, so any defeTment morrow would have to be for a fOTt­ night.

beyond to­ Mr. Speaker: I think myself that there is soma reason in what the Chief has said.

I do not say that Secretary if we go into Committee the Bill should be left there.

The Chief Secretary: can start the second reading adjourn, Perhaps we and then Sir.

Mr. Speaker: Yes; the hon.

Mem� ber can speak on the Bill.

The Chief Secretary: y like to commence I would the debate, certainl Sir.
Rev.

Mr. Bobb: There is no doubt has said, this Bill a lot of public discussion.

that the Chief Secre·­ that, as Mr. Correia is causing While I consider to go ahead with tary would be anxious it, I agree that it would be in the interest to hear what of the Council the Unoffici al Members think about it.

At the present too few on this side of the Council and I shall be sorry if we could not (tefer it for even a week when there will be I do not think it a better attendance.
us to proceed, with would be wise for is today.

the Council as .it moment we are just I can would be; some of them, altera­ Mr. Speaker: Personally, see no harm in your doing so.

I think Members are aware of what the amendments I think, call for substantial tions.

For instance, -they do not know what would be the date of the electio ns.

This does not say they will be .held in January or later.

It looks as if there will be no elections this year.
The date has to be is made public and the electorate entitled when the elections The will take place.

elections should be held as early as possible.

to know what is happening­ whether Mr .

.Speaker: I should like to hear what the hon.

Member, Mr. Tello, thinks.

Mr. Tello: I think that the prin- I think the Chief Secre­ ciple of the Bill will be supported, but nearly all the Members of the Council are absent.
tary has gone as far as he can go by offering rn order to ensure the attendance eertain the interest to leave the Bill in Committee Members who seem to have of the Bill at heart.

of Mr. Lee: With all due respect to that we I understood the last speaker.

would have been allowed to comment on the Bill and not that it would be left in the Committee stage.
The Chief Secreta1·y: I rise, Sir, to of the Bill move the second reading intituled: "An Ordinance to make prov1s10n of Members of the Legislative the election Council and for purposes connecter.l therewjth."

for This is another essential step in towards a return to a cur progress form o f Government.

representative First came the revision of the electoral roll which has now been completed.

to the Secondly came the amendments which Constitutional are now law.
The constituencies have also been proclaimed by the Governor Order in Council 1491 Rep,..esentation of 9TH JANUARY, 1957.thC' P<'o11le ( Amdt.)

Bi/I.

1492 part of it is recapitula­ in legislation enshrined of the and now the Representation People Bill is the next - and· indeed the last stage before the fixing of the This Brn makes pro­ date for elections.

vision for the holding and prescribes �hould be conducted.
of the elections how these elections It is a long Bill - a detailed· one, - a Commissioner of 1953, and the Legislative s are now consolidated There have, I think pl'ovided Ordinance Elections of' the Peoph� there is, in addition to the all the provisions of 1945. fol' point out the of all, to conduct but the greatel' tion of existing the Representation Ordinance Council For convenience, holding election into one Ordinance.

been some chan,ges -and however, I should, at this stage, principal ones.
First the elections, Chief Electoral Officer, of Elections Commissioner exercise v1s1on over the conduct of elec­ tions and to enforce election ing of the provi.sions ance, and he would issue such instruc­ tions to election for the conduct officers of election as would be necessary.
The detaile d management of the election would remain with the Chief Electoral Offi.cer but the Commissioner would have over-all supervision bility, the Chief E1ectoral i:n case of any difficulty on the pari; of officers impa1·tiality of Elections and super­ direction and responsi- to whom and be a sort of re.feree Officer might rer·er 3.

The has to or dispute.

of this Ordin­ in enforce­ by clause general It was by the Robertson who said they had heard voting by illiterates.
before them of the ballot by this facilitate severely criticised Commission grave doubts expressed about the secrecy method of voting.
The Robertson thought Commission ments were unnecessarily to facilitate had this report whic11, will quote: tha1: the arrange­ elaborate and they 81 of theil' voting by ill iterates to say in })aragraph I with your permission, ''We are oE the opmwn, however, that of the en­ In British arrangements which were are voting by illiterntes we see no reason the elaborate made to facilitate certainly unnecessary; why the secrecy and reliability tire ballot should be jeopai·dised on their Cuiana it would be account.
wrong to assume that illiteracy is gen­ erally associated intelligence.

reasonable, therefore, erate votel' to be able with a little and perhc1ps coaching, printed name of the candidate he wishes to vote <1nd to made a cross against it."

to expect an illit­ effort the to recognise for whom with less than average It does not �eem.

to us un­ Government has taken heed of Bill in this· arnongst the other in the Caribbean.
the method · that rec.ommendation, and which is fair enough, a11d it has and sister.s brothers British territories In fact we are adopting in use in the Caribbean, generally in­ which has cluding British element in a verj• simila1· its population rather to .om·s-indeed n higher one.

vVe co113iidered yery care­ fully whether thi.s method of nting would operate illiterates.

\Ve think if certain provisions membered.


of not, particularly to the disadnrntage of illiteracy Hondttras in the Bill arc re­ is likely to attract change - and perhaps the the g,.·eat­ - is that the 1953 method followed.

Another one which est interest of voting ha5 not been 1953 method, member, consisted of putting paper into a box on which there was � symbol.

There was one box to rnch candidate and it was done behind a That method was designed to screen.
as Members no doubt re­ The the voting First of all there is ('lause 1:.!

('.l) that a ballot pape1·, eren does 11ot which tJ)l'Oddes if it is marked in a way v,hich conform strictly with the requirements of the law, will be ac1·epted by the presiding shows the intention other words, the voter may put a cross of the rnter.

Jn it clearly officer, prnvidecl 1493 Representation of 9TH JANUARY, 1957. the Peo1Jle ( Anult.)
BW 1494 over or elsewhere, 1The Chief Secretary] not in the open space but perhaps the name of a candidate, or he may not put a cross but put a tick, or ,some other form of identifi that w.ould to accept the vote, fPl'ovided clear what the Yoter's That is an important absence of for illite1·ates.

it is quite was.

intention in the provision cation; not be a reason for refusing any particular 42 (3) : ''42.
(3) A ballot paper on which the I will read clause arrangements vote is marked - (a) elsewhere proper place; or than in the (b)otherwise than by means of a cross; or (c) by more than one mark, be rejected if that the vote shall be for one shall not by reason thereof an intention or other of the candidates appears, does not of itself identify it is not shown that /he can be identified thereby."

and the way the papel· is marked and the elector clearly That, I may :s-ay, it foilows for Elections.
im·ention; dom l�ules is nothing new in this Bill.

It i.s all taken from respectable is not our own the United King Indeed, sotu·ces.

there officer to an elector - in fact requires how to mark to which I also wislt a presiding Clause 34 (2), to refer, permits instruct him to instruct his ballot but how.

H� is required ter the way in which the him ,to cast his vote.

I think this fol­ lows the British paper, not where.

of course, law requirM an elector Honduras to show the Yo­ provision.
and I do not the symbols It has certainl of the sort.

It is the will not be allo­ candi­ but 1to individual tention that cated to parties dates.

This, I have no doubt, will be in some quauters as an at­ crititized the party system.

It tempt to ,,veaken is nothing proce­ dure in force in Jamaica and in Trini­ dad.

I do not think anyone would say that the 1party system was not healthy and \'igorous in Jamaica, think anybody would say that of Trini­ dad either.
y not opera­ ted against the development and vigorous party sy1Stem healthy have symbols allocated rather than to parties.

;purpose of symbols is to aSisist illiterate the candi­ date for whom he wishes to Yote.

Sym­ bols are not intended that the to party labels.

proper way to use i&ymbols is to all.ot them to candidates, and the procedure will be that at the time of nomination they will each have a symbol alloted them by means of ballot.
In fact the the voter to identify to candidclftes So it is clea1· to be attached of a to to Xo symbols are used in the United ,they a.re dis­ and generally Kingdom, carded when there is no aip,preciable gree of illiteracy in the population.
Ho,bertson recommended that ithey should be discarded here as and it did refer in soon as possible, h 81 of its Report to what it paragra,p, called de­ 'l'he Collllnis.siion ''the tendency, noticeable in the last for voters to pay more heed to election, party symbol than to the merits of the individual candidates.''
and of isymbols has been retained as an aid to illiterates, fot" the n]­ to candidates, Thirdly, provisi.ou locaition the symbol as well as the candidate's name and his number in alphabetical order will appear on the bal1ot should say here, however, thod :of allocating p.rescribed under the Ordinance, the symbols will be to be made but it i::;.

the in- in Regnlaitions that the me­ paper.

I The allotment of symbols rather than to parties didates i,s considered, danger.
guard against that to can­ it wil.l, The method of voting adopted, as I have said, is the one in force in the rnited Kingd,om, commended by the Robertso and it is the one re·· n Commis- 1495 Representati'on of !JTH JANUARY, 1D57.

the Peo1Jle (Amdt.)

Bill 1496 may un· just how it will operate sion.


In order that nlembcrn derstand read the last s,entence of the Report, clearly is : It says: hecause it sho'NS very jnst what this method of yoting T will of paragraph �] w·iLh him a friend who, on taking a oath, may mark foe ballot pa­ suitable per on his behaH or, if he so wishes be may ask the :µresiding officer the p.iper for hi111.
io mark of the presiding officer, deposit of whether or not there It is not a Bill in ·which the be a mat, It is a long Bill on the I do not think at this :s:tage, second reading, for me it is necessary to go tluough this long Bill dause by cla11se.

<inestion shonld be such a law is: a matter of controYersy.

It is simply what is within the Bill ·which may <:er fo1· discussion.

but most of it is merely recapitulation of exi.


;;ting· pointed out the particular places in which we haye departed from the existing stage is reached :llembers ma.y well haYe ,IJ.oints clauses on individual which they would like enlightenment, and when that stage is reached I ,yill do my best to explain the meaning and intentio I for­ n behind those rlau:1es.

mally b.sg to moye that lche Rill lie read a second time.

law.

·when the Committee law, and I think' I ha,·e on The Attorney second the motion.
General : I beg to Mr. Lee: If you are adjourning for to speak to be e11abled absent :\Iembers on this Bill, it is best for yo11 to ad­ journ nmv, if nol� I would hayc to gh-e my f[Uota now as I have studied the Bill.

· But I would like all of us to the same :time, so that if speak at several Member� cover th� ground.

J have in mind I need not reiterate the1u.


''We have therefore no hesitation in should be discarded, that the system used in the last the same lines as in the United having suggesting election and that in­ stead voting should be carried out on broacliy Kingdom.

That is to say, a received his ballot names of the candidates stituency, booth, there mark a cross in pencil on the paper against didate of his choice and then, in the presence it in a single ballot box."
the name of the can­ paper printed for the con­ voter, with the should retire to a screened That is the method.

which in this Bill it is proposed to ado}Jt, saye that in addition didate on the ba11ot paper there will symb ol and his number.

also be bis to the name of the can­ their It is thought day ("·here particularly In the Bill the normal time to be day aud allowed betiween nomination that is required) polling at least as long as i:, !

!5 days.
!5 days.

A period hay­ if the candidates, that is required ing ,been allotte d their symbols, are to time to eam·ass be given reasonable that in some constituencies.

places that period may not even be 1011g enough, of the interior, in the Bill for the time to be extended to a longer rperiod, should that be necessary.
polling days; polling will be so arranged t0 take place on the same day where polling is necessary, but in i:,ome cases nominatio forward a oit to suit the convenience of the particular mind the Rupununi district will take pl.ace on different and there is provision But that will not mean that n day may be brought area.

We have in in ,some parts .

1\fr.

Speaker: The Hon.

Member wishes to speak lat2 in the debate.

Ho is often late and I would sug-g-est to him to make his contribution 110',Y.
There are tw:o ways in ,rhich a blind or physicall rnter may cast his vote.

Ile may either take y incapacitated Mr. Lee : I will proceed.

Thero are a few 1:hing-s in this nm ""hich.

in my opinion, general princip,le do not romply with the of the c.omtitutional 1497 Representation of 0TH JANUARY, 1957. the People ( A melt.)

Bi.U 1498 and that the names of On box be able to say and secrecy and on that ballot of the 1Ja1lot .

• \f· of of the ballot.


there was a ballu,t are going to be prit1'ted on 1Ja11ers according right of the seC'recy ter a11, if we acc.ept the principle adult s.uffrage, ·we must ·also acrept the principle The of the s?cret ballot.

method adopted in this bill, will rnit meet the case ,vholly.
I ·will tell you what happened at the last Uenenl so 1that yon will see that if Elections is amending the law it Government should be done in such a manner as to carry out these iwo principles-adult suffrage that occasion for each candidate box was placed rthe name and syJlJboJ of the candidate.
partie.s over­ that certain .political in that method by came any difficulties telling them ,,mppmting the illiterates that if they cannot find the ballot box of the party they must leave ballot papers on the boxes and when the returning the boxes he would put them in the box of the candidate.

case the 1:eturning officer could pnt the ballot papers in the box of the That did candidate he is supporting.

not giye of the ballot.


litcrntc Yuters would is my party syrnLul," '''fhis symbol will be known as snch through­ At th8 same time I out the conntry.

do not condemn Government in re­ spoct of a symbol for a particular candidate.

There may be good reasons for that, but it doe.s not ca.rry in it of ,party system.

Is the the principle c;oyernment going to bring Reg:tla· tions into for::e \vhereby candidates ihe ballot of nomination?

or their supporters tell the illitera name.


If the names a1·e so candidate's enumerated, line should be n thick pbced behveen them so that the il­ liternte by th�1t.

If can be assisted eyen the YOters C'annot see the sym­ bols pro1Jerly por,ters wh81'e the name falls.

I therefore to (l.oyernment ing this system _as ad,-ocated in the Bill, lchey should take the nomina dons as they come and place the names of the candidates in that order on the bal­ lo,i; paper.
Candidates it that their proposers nominate them in the order they desire.
see to ·wo11ld and seconders the de.sired secrecy nor read the names, sup­ If that is so, Candidates will be able to indicate .of their candidate 1te.s where to find rheir In this bill you are g.oing to aHk that if they are adopt­ I know as a fact would be able to is changing to the order ad,·ise officer In that to them their 01· ·rel'Ommand candida,tes to ten ch <the illiter to mark off the paragr<1.ph an illiterate with the name -which he cannot read and symbol which he is going to see.
It is not a party symbol bnrt an in­ symbol, so that in mH'h con­ dividual stitnency would haye to get their supporters ates their res1;ective in the case of a party symLol the whole Colony will know it.

Each yoter will be yoting for a candidat e and not for a party, whereas we ·want to introdtt�e and encourage to teach the illiterate a party sy.stem.
first of all Gornrnment should try to have party symbols in orde1· that il- the· party system and how to YOte in I therefore symbols, whereas think that )ii'.

Speaker : There is a form and the first nomination first place.

goes in the :Mr. Lee : I have a form here.

The must be prin tecl deeper and so line�.

indicate should be such that the 'J'he printing ill. iten1 te can easily distinguish one candidate from the other.

di.s:tindly the nominations.

.Mr.

Speaker : The lwn.


Member means ''bolder tended to.

lines."

That can be at­ 1499 Representa,tion of 9TH JANUARY, 1957. the People ( Amclt.)

Bill 1500 The Chief Secretary: May [ in­ to say that clause 3;3 of the bill that the names of the candi­ terrupt provides dates on the ballot paper shall be in al­ phabetical every candidat pal'ticular name paper.

The hon.

Member's point will be met that way.

e :will know wbere his After nomination wrn be on the ballot orde1·.
da_y Mr. Lee : I am Lee and there may be another Lee as a candidate.

one will be first?

Which The Chief Secretary: If the hon.

Member reads the bill he would see- Mr. Lee : I am saying you have paper.
districts-say and those illiteraites but 25 days ,within which to nm through your eleatoral the Vreed-en-Hoop West Demerara Area-where you have a large number of i1literates on the sugar estates, to educate as to where your name will be on the ballot Would it not be more advantag.eous for the peo!I)Je to know tha,t on nomina· ti.on day Mr. So-and-So was nomina­ ted first or second or las.t and that his name would be first or second <Jr last on the ballot paper?
I do not think it is correct names• of candidates der.

1ir.

A. Lee will be printed first and Mr. T. Lee second.

In my opinion the names on the ballot paper should be (Printed according nomination be able to say I am voting for t11e can­ didate who was nominated 01· ::;econd or last according of candidate:s,.

sped of the ballot paper as it stands.


to print the in alphabetical to the order of the illi!temtes firsit to the number That is my poirnt in re­ because would or­ I do want to say that Goyernment that it is not said, should be careful as in many instances ,mme ·of the polling sufficiently lighted i n the !Past, that booths were not in order to facili- is blind the presiding rstation indicate or his sub­ with the to those the votes must be cast.
tatc those rnters who could not see too well aild had to go ont of the booth in order to be able to see how to vote.

Of course, by so doing the presiding officer and those assisting cer,tain can­ dicla te.s would either whisper or by fad�tl expression Ye<Lers ,,vhere l·nless a '1Jerson o:l'ficer at a polling· stitute should not interfere voter after he has been given the ballot imper, as such interference is a violation of the secrecy of the ballot.
Further, some of the pens provided at the polling booths had no nibs on them.

The booths should be properly equipped so as to be easily available out his having to leave the booth to return to the presiding officer.

What I want to prevent between the voter and anybody after he has received into the polling-booth.
Therefore, the Reg;nlatio ns it should be provided that whethe1· it be pens or pencils or otherwise it should be so supplied that a voter would have no cause to leave the polling the ballot paper and has gone booth before he has voted.

to the voter with­ is any contact in Mr. Speaker : The illiterate voter would need 110 pen.
Mr. Lee : Concerning the period of between his and voting clay, Government time allowed the candidate nominati.on should accept the fact that there arc areas which require a longer time: inaccessible places in Kambia, Barima or the R upununi.

If nominations are made on one day and a longer time is given for all the constituencies, opposing shuffle their candidates ties come.
parties or individuals then cannot as the opportuni­ 1 also want to clraw attention to tbe fact that under the old elections 1501 Revresentation of �TH J ANDARY, 1957. t71 e People (Amdl.)

Bill 1502 before a and deposit.

after his nomination Ll\fr.

Lee] law a candidate was given 48 hours to make hi;; declaration That is not for in this Bill, and Govern­ pl'ovided the wisdom of ment should consider includin g it.
Even ,1s hours were con­ sidered too short a time, and I re­ membe1· a candidate that contending he had to hire special transportation and travel many miles by launch befor� he could make his declaration Comrnissione1· of Oaths.

We are asking in this new provision that didate should make his deposit time of his nomination, but supposing a constituency ''Mr.

A·· and proceeds absence?

The1·e was one case of a while he candidate was on holiday.
His attorney the declarat ion and it was challenged in the Supreme Court that the law did not allow it.

Therefore like it to be definitely an attorney p1·operly make a declaration principal This Bill does not state whether any­ body else but the candidate the -deposit.

desires to nominate to do so in his sta tecl that constituted can on hehalf of his and can make a deposit.
the ca11- c>.t the being nominated I would can make made but ihis i.s a pre1·c­ if a can­ posted to that he should al:;o have Beeattsc does not get notices t.llat he must not have [Ul address in hi:; rnnstitueney, <{l1isitc: another address.

diclate him he can bring an election if he fails to gain the seat, and in henring an election petition will con1'ider knowledge didate or the person bringing petition respectfully should be made in the Bill for this.

contend that provision as import:mt.


Therefore, petition the I the court of the can­ I have in my hand a copy of the Representation .. Nomina­ of the People is necessary accordingly.

that nomin:1.tion to make a declaration, and I cannot find anything candidate .
}�lmaica law, 194,1, in it a bout the election being required but it docs require should be made by 10 voters and seconding- Let me see if a declaration tfon papers are handed in, nomination place and the candidate pays hia t�tkes of $240.00 (in my opinion the deposit deposit be more thau that.

It Rhoulcl should be, say, $500.00, ination are irresponsible with fire in contesting they would not be 1tble to pay that amount).

To my mind, the c1ause requiring there.

He is nominated, deposit lie to cteela1·e?


he is a British he pays his within the given time; what is That he is over 21 and subject?

and the nom-· would go nllll and vo·id if there seats, beci.use declaration candidates should not be playing There is another point which should be made.
If a candidate must have in wi1ich an office in the constituency he is fighting then he the elections, must have another address some­ where else, because if his office is in the Rupununi he should not have to find himself telling that his mail did not reach him on time.

And how is the election mail to canciiclates time unless he retains Perhaps he would not .get a plane.

The candidate address within a postal area so that the returning can officer post to him easily.
I a;n not saying to get in remote al'eas 011 a special or presiding officials election must have an alternative officer plane'!

When a candidate is elected he has to take the Oath and make a declaration that he iR a British afterwards Subject.

to the effect lU r. Speaker : He has to take the Oath of Allegiance.

!\Ir.

Lee : Why does he have to take it here if he has done so Is it because there are no contested before?

1503 Representation of 9TH JANUARY, 1957. the People ( Amdt.)
Bill 1504 ancl so is allowed to as a �e;n­ Now, the only has to ::,ay that and any of the at this stage.

Let seats when a candidnte s.:y that he is not a bankrupt on.

The candidate would run the risk of being· fined if he slates, uer, that he is qualified.

candidate ,rnnld not have to satisfy other qualification:; us assume eiat there was no suci1 declaration; 110 quulific.

:ation Court there for?

In my opinion, this question is not necessary.


to look at the names List in a case where finds it necessary to vote in a u1· polling-station Uetuming Officer on th-2 Voters' .i \-oter tfalrict the one fr r which he was registered originally .

I am not saying that a Fresiding: to give such a.n opportunity cl'iminatclr, but I am saying that cYcry person should be allowed.

e:...ercisc e,:rn his li,·eiihoocl home.


be allowed indis­ his constitutional of disqualification whaL is the Supreme to right to ii' a candidate away from his Office1· other than zhonlcl says he has Mr. Speaker : J think the hon.

1VIember should give some idea as to what his amendments ·would be in Committee.

Mr. Lee : I have gi\·en some idea of that.


They will :·efer tion of 48 hours for the nomination a candidate deposit-and sweal'ing and the making of his they will abo refer lo the to the ques­ of in of a Member.

Mr. Speaker : Will the hon.

Mem­ ber submit these in writing end of the ,veek?

befol'� the ,v11ere time for such a to cast his vote at another Mr. Lee : I will do so, Sir.
As regards clause 29, let us assume that a voter is registered in a village in Wakenaam or Leguan but has gone to work on a grant in the interior com!11trnicntion could only he made by a direct method.

ls Government allowing sufficient \-ote1 In 111; opinion, however, station'!

should be 'permitted by the Presiclirnr Officer.

If a voter desires his vote from one polling another on accouut of incnm·•iJJi'.

'nce through his employment, allowed to vote at a staLion than the one at which he is register* ed.
Provision to transfer staticn polling th:tt should be made for the he should he other to if in future.

provision They wo�1ld have and discretion of the interior, to the use of horses w!lich arose in certain At lhe last elections many per�nns were unaware of some of the difficultie" .

:1:1.rt<: and but for the c:·.l'r.

exe1·cisecl by some of the Returnin�· Officer many voters houlcl not klYe had a chance to vote.
J hope that Government is making 1 iie nece.-;sary to avoid these difficulties been greater on the last occasion some of the rangers in the interior had not resorted to help things out.

We do not want to hear of stones being thrown at Gov­ ernment in future by way of al1ega­ tions to the effect that the elections did not l)ermit ballot and o1.hcr ing obr;en·etl.

sianees rnitted to :,erious pri$onrnent been broug·M.
the communic;tie likely to be up against we have to be very cal'eful, practising thing:=; to ofl'-s.et what Government has inrnnged.

I know the methods used by mme of these persons, know that we should be careful to avoid them.
of the secrecy democratic I know of several in­ Officers com­ which could have led If we clei;,ire to overcome methods that we are where Presiding b1·eaehes eonsequences if eleitlon including petitions of the righta be­ because the persons those methods might do and therefore im­ had 1505 Representation of 9TH JANUARY, 1957. the People ( Amdt.)

Bill 1506 Mr. Bob.b: I rise just to make a few stage, at to suggest to an before the Bill goes voter what he should do.
observations through to the Committee which time Members will have the privileg e to speak in more detail.

The first thing· I would like to say, which follows on what the hon.

Member has said with of voting, that it would have been a matter of dispute that the method of voting used at the last general eledion favoured only the party system.

respect to the new melhod is that I did not expect Those of should a village election illiterate I just mention that in passing.
who will have the responsibility choosing presiding exercise they are as thoroughly possible, method of voting which will be employed a great deal of responsi­ bility will rest upon the presiding officers to instruct as to how they should proceed.

great care and ensure that briefed as because as a result of the officers illiterate electors day that a period of 25 days lVIy last point is with respect to nomination In clause 14 (4) it is the period of time between and polling.
provided shall elapse between nomination and po1ling day.

I am not happy about that.

I rather think the period should be longer than 25 days so as to give the greatest ease and convenience to be alerted try.

I would a period of 40 days, i,n which time I thinlc everybody should be alerted, and there should be no difficulty in over­ coming irregularities.

in any part of the coun­ have preferred possible for everybody That is beyond dispute.

The elec­ I think to adult suff­ of illitera(.es.


tors were simply told on that occasion to vote for the symbol which repre­ sented the party.

It ·was very easy but not essential rage.

Adult 5uffrage gives every person an opportunity to vote, and the use of symbols is only for the convenience that convenience was very much abused on the last occasion, and if we are doing-anything recurrence in this Bill appears to be a very fair attempt to prevent again.
Each candidate allotted a symbol, and electors should l.Je taught and helped for the candidate for a party irrespectiYe candidates.

it being committed should be of a party and noL of the tu prevent a to Yote of that abuse the pro})Osal of in agree­ Those are the points which I wish tc, make on the general principle the Bill.

I am thoroughly ment with the basis of this Bill which does show our appreciation the growing intelligence of the elec­ torate.
I do not think there is much in tbe Bill that will baffle or confuse anybody, especially be a certain instruction endorse th� new basis .

for the elec­ tion.!..

measure of training and by candidates.


I fully as there should of With those words of caution I with respect and presiding· have expressed elections I hope the Biil ·will go through, ana there will be no difficulty ing the coming elections in conduct­ on a much to village officers, A g1·eat deal of responsi­ The other point I which to make is more or less to issue a word of caution.

bility will rest on the presiding officers, and we can only hope that not only wil.]
great care be taken in the selection of presiding but that they will be \'e1·y briefed.

Apa1't from the symbols 3.ppearing method of voting proposed tically elections easy it is for a returning officer is prac-­ that used in v!llag;e offiecrs thoroughly today, and one knows how on the ballot paper, the the same as ,re 1507 Representation of 9TH JANUARY, 1957. the Peo]Jle ( Amclt.)

BiU 1508 higher standard occasion.

than on the lasf; not secret there.

A presiding officer need nnly a dozen per,wns voted.
If pn:.,iding officer I could do it.

to find out for whom half I were a Mr. Coneia: I shall be very brief in what I have to say on this thf' election Bill.

At the iast general polling booths were very poor}�, Although lit even in Georgetown.

at that time I could see fairly ·well I know that in some of t!1e hooti:s it to distingnish e,-en was very difficult the symbols.

on this occasion Government take every precaution V]l(l give i11- strnctions to see that the booths al'e properly lit.
It is very important the case of illiterate hope that will to the presiding I therefore JJeople.

in especiall�r office1·s 'i<\'ith regard to the period be­ and polling with Georgetown and in other easel!

communication In such cases a period of I think tween nomination in the :.

;5 d,tys would be reasonable where there are cace of con::;tit.ueHcies but there are good communications, b\-o constituencies where com­ at le�,st arc vary poor.

In some munications <·ase!

:; i,; fortnightly, monthly.


?.G day;; \VOnld be very inadequate.

I think if there is to be any exten­ �ion of the period, the one nomiHatiou r clo not agree that in some Colrm:,·.

should be made <.:a.

';es nominatipns tKo or three weeks before the day fixed for nominations � tituencies, 01' 5{) days between nomination polling should b.e allowed for all constituencie:-,.
in other con­ but that a period and there should be day throughout of 40 It is essential that the ballrit candidates: do favom· certain should be secret.

One could punch holes in his clause to i:.how that the not secret.

Fonn 17 ballot paper is ,-Vill that the countel'fnil indicates carry a numbe1· to r.orre:=qion,l with that at the back of the ballot ensure paper.

Does that anaugement secret voting?

It does not.

Presiding officers When a that cannot be prevented.
voter goes to the polling station a "John at the door announces constable Jones, No.

17.".

The prei:;iding hands the voter a ballot IMPCH' officer and inserts on the counterfoil of votel's­ number on the list voter's the subsetiuent "No.

17."

In quite uf the votei:; it is therefore ing officer to for the p1·esid possible cli,:;cover for whom ".John .Tones·· voted.

The methocl voter's number on the counterfoil does not make for secrecy of I suggest that instead ballot.
bering, the I do not know if the embossed.

in the United King­ method employed dom is the same as that propo�ed in this Bill.

If it is, then the ballot is ballot papen; ;;110u of num­ lc1 be of reconling cotr:1ting the the the to work in other districts.

The hon.

Member, lVlr.

Lee, re­ fe1Ted to case,; in which voters leave districts in which they live and arc t'egistcrecl.

[ do not think there is much difficulty At the last election in that re:-:.p�ct.
Urnl'e were many voters in my con­ stituency districts.

fnr me by prnxr.

in other who were employed but they were able to vote A,, reganls �lectiou expenses I expenses of ,vhie:h increased think there are a few constituencies in rc,;pect Take the North should be allowed.
and the Intei'ior West District a candidate toral DiRtricts to and around those places by specially chartered on the regular flights he cannot do so in the 25 clays allowed between nomination Elec­ may travel plane, but if h e is to depend and eler;tion.

He will have , 1509 Rep1·esentation of 9TH JANUARY, 1957. the People ( Amdt.)

Bill 1510 to the use of chartered lMr.

Correia] to 11t.

:sort planes to take him to and around I think a fair amount those districts.
should be allowed in respect of those districts.

for election expenses voters.

to il­ There should be no Before I take my seat, there is another matter I would like to refer to, and that is the ballot pap':!r.

I �m speaking with 1·eference literate other printed matter ahove or below the names of t he candidates person having because an llliiterate accord­ b e e n instructed ing to the lines on the ballot paper matter may take in the other printed as a name or names.
There are a few othee things I would like to speak on, hut I wi'll take my seat and raise the� in the Committee to v o t e stage.

Mr. Speaker: The Returning mark Officer ha.

'- to put >i.n official on the ballot paper before a persm, can vote.

Does the hon.

Member suggest that no numbe1· even should be put on the ha11ot paper?

It assists have voted.

in showing how many persons he wanted to find out how a person had voted.

That would be an extra­ thing for him to do.


ordinary Mr. Col'l'eia: I have had a copy of the ballot paper (Form No.

17) sent me, and it is possible for Gov­ ernment to decide to include some­ thing else at the top or bottom of Form 17.

I am just warning Govern­ ment that it will not be right to do so.

{ l ., Mr. Speaker: It would be a good of the can­ on the ballot paper ac­ printed to the order of nomination thing to have the names didates corcUng· and not alvhabetically.

be considered.
be considered.

That should Mr. Correia: Even in an election a person's vote is considered I do not see that it should be petition r,;ecret.

exposed.

llfr.

Lee: The law gives a Judge to see a person's the rig·ht paper.

My hon.

friend does not under­ stand it.

voting Mr. Correia : 'l'he countel'foil will show that number.

Mr. Coneia: No, Your Honour.

Mr. Speaker: Are there any other hon.

Member desires to points the make?

Mr. Speaker: That is the number of the ballot paper but not the voter's roll.
He number on the electoral marks on the ba1!ot paper the num­ ber on the .

electoral person goes to vote.

The hon.

Member suggests has time to see that number on the ballot paper when the person has vr.:�<.

:!d, if.

that the Returning Office1· roll when the he wants to.

Mr. Correia: I think it should be double what it is.

:Mr. Speaker:Would any other Member like to speak ?

Mr. Speaker: Have you any idea as to the amount that should be allowed for travelling?

Tl1e Chief SeCl'etary: The number i!


'l on the back of the ballot paper and would have the Returning Officers to turn every single ballot paper if The Chief Secretal'y: There are need to be many points raised which considered, today can be dealt with in· the Com- but every point made here 1511 Repl'Cseni:wtion of 9TH JANUARY .. Hl57.

t·;,e People'::; (Amdt.)

Bi:Z 1512 There are, howeve1·, mittee stage when we come to tl1e parti­ cular clauses.

some pointR that I want to examine myself.


1 spggest that we pass the second reading into the Committee tinue its consideration In the interim those Members not present who have points to put for­ ward can do so in writing, be glad to con;;ider and then take the Bill at a later date.

stage and con­ and I will them.


operative Development): I beg ieave of the Council to defer the second reading of the Bill inti tu led: ''An Ordinance to amend the Local Gov- 2rnment Ordinance" in nnl<:>1· to give an interested some time �o consider it.

part�, Mr. Lee: 1 take it that in the Htage Your Honour will Committee aJlow other Members an opportunity to speak on the Bill.
Mr. Speaker: I shall ascertain they have from the other Members what sug­ gestions Those who nre absent will be given every opportunity to express their Yiews.

to make on the Bill.

Question pnt, and agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Mr. Speaker: I have a note her� of the Magistrat,e's that clause 3 limits the payment of eompensa tion to an amount under the jurisdiction Court.

You are making arrangement for payment where there is disagree�· ment.
If you limit the amount to the jurisdiction it is up to $250; but if you feel that the amount should be $350, then it must go to the Supreme Court Court, of the Magistrate's Qt,estion put, and agreed to.

Consideration of Bill deferred.

The Chief Secretary: move that Council adjourn tomonow.

It will not be a meeting.

I beg to to 2 p.m. very long LoCAL GOVERNMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL Question put, and agreed to.
Mr. Farnum (Member for Local Government, Social Welfare and Co- Council adjourned 10th January, to 2 p.m. on 1957.

Thursday,