BUILDING trust among local political parties is a work in progress, according to General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), Mr Clement Rohee.“In a society like ours, which has a difficult history, we cannot ‘not do this’ (continue to build trust),” he said.

Addressing the issue of democratic consolidation and participatory democracy – tenets of party principles – at the PPP’s final press conference for 2013, held yesterday at the party’s Freedom House headquarters, Mr Rohee said: “One such core principle is the issue of democratic consolidation and participatory democracy. These principles were echoed in an address to the National Assembly on December 17, 1992 by former President, Dr. Cheddi Jagan immediately after the victory of the PPP/C in the elections of October 5, 1992, after twenty-eight years of PNC dictatorial rule, when he said: ‘We have already embarked on a policy of involving the people at all levels. The new government has started to work in a new spirit of having discussions with all those concerned before taking decisions. The way forward will be through public discourse and consensus’.

Mr Rohee said that realisation of this vision is grounded in the need to build trust at the political level, and create political space for all.

“Confrontation and threats must give way to dialogue, and the good of the country should remain paramount in all our political engagements and discourse,” he said.

Rohee explained that, in the years of the late President Desmond Hoyte, trust among the two main political factions was being established, but the “little trust” achieved between the parties, “for some reason or other”, soon dissipated.

DIALOGUE

When asked about current efforts to restore that trust, particularly considering the political Opposition’s request for exchange of information on major projects and the establishment of a Tripartite Budget Committee, Mr Rohee said the political will to build trust is present, and the Opposition members have only to request the relevant information to be in possession of it. He added that every request has, to date, been honoured.

With regard to the Tripartite Budget Committee, Rohee said the Government’s position has always been that preparation of the National Budget was the responsibility of the current administration.

Efforts at tripartite talks since the commitment was made by President Donald Ramotar in 2011 have been hamstrung by the inability of parties to reach a consensus. The last meeting, the 2013 budget consultations between the three parties, ended on a bad note, and, as a result, the Opposition parties gutted the budget by $31.4 billion, reducing it from $208.8 billion to $177.4 billion.

Mr Rohee acknowledged that the Opposition has warned of increased scrutiny of the Budget if not included in the preparation process, but he has made it clear that increased scrutiny is not a problem for the Government.

Mr Rohee, however, maintained that the search for a political solution that meets the expectations of the Guyanese people must continue.
He said: “It is clear from the standpoint of the PPP that there is a strong political will to find common ground. The PPP/C administration has always recognised the importance of multi-party democracy, and has always sought to ensure that Opposition parties are not treated with disdain.

“There has never been harassment of Opposition politicians, as happened in the past. The attainment of political power by democratic means will be recognised as a legitimate objective which is the right of every political party.”

Mr Rohee extended a “hand of friendship” to those who subscribe to the aspirations of a free and democratic society within the broad framework of a national democratic state based on the principles of national sovereignty, a tri-sectoral economy, good governance, rule of law, and a working class orientation. “This will be a state of all Guyanese, where the interest of all classes and strata of society will not only be protected, but advanced to higher levels,” Mr Rohee stressed.

OPTIMISM
He pointed out that the PPP party and the PPP/C government have always been, and will continue to remain, faithful to the vision of its founding leaders to create a society in which there is racial and working class unity, participatory democracy, and inclusive governance.

Rohee said: “A new year always brings with it a renewed sense of optimism and hope for a brighter future. The PPP shares this feeling of optimism, which is grounded on the measurable progress the country has made over the past two decades under the visionary leadership of successive PPP/C presidents, all of whom have articulated their own style of leadership that have defined their individual legacies.
“Despite their own leadership styles and personalities, which they have all brought to bear on the national psyche, it is also true that they have all been guided by the basic tenets of party policies and ideological underpinnings based on the core values and principles of the party.”

Mr Rohee thinks a re-affirmation of these principles was expressed by former President Janet Jagan during an address to the National Assembly on February 26 1998, when she said: “As a nation we have to constantly move forward. We cannot turn back. We have to live with our history. It is ours, and the most we could do at this point is to learn the lessons that history has taught us.

“Our past should not divide us, but give us strength and deepen our commitment to pursue boldly the interest of the nation and the people. We must understand our unique cultural experience and realise that our oneness as a nation transcends the sum of its parts.”

Mr Rohee added that past President Bharrat Jagdeo was “no less explicit” in terms of the way forward. In an address to the opening of the Eighth Parliament on May 4, 2001, Mr Jagdeo had said: “Mr. Speaker, my party sought, and has been granted, the mandate to pursue this journey and to lead this process. This is a great honour as it is a profound responsibility. It is, however, a journey that none — in spite of capabilities and experience — must or dare undertake alone. Nation building demands the involvement of all of us.”

Mr Rohee pointed out that this point was re-emphasised by President Donald Ramotar in his speech at the Opening of the Tenth Parliament, on February 10, 2012.
On that occasion, the current Head of State said: “Indeed, the makeup of this new Parliament dictates that we seek consensus and compromise and resist the temptation to believe that any party can ride roughshod over another. Any such attempt may see us missing the historical opportunities that this new composition offers.

“I urge that we work assiduously to find common ground within and outside of this hallowed chamber. Within my administration, there exists the political will to do so.”

Mr Rohee maintained that, in line with that party’s programme, which calls for establishment of a national democratic state that represents the interests of all classes, groups and social strata as part of an inclusive state, a decision was taken by the party to work towards the creation of a ‘broad left, progressive and democratic nationalist front’ comprising representatives of all sections of the working people, farmers, intellectuals, professionals, the business community, NGOs and all Guyanese who share a common vision of the national democratic choice.

TRANSFORMATION
Mr Rohee stressed that, in more than two decades, the impact of the efforts made by successive PPP/C administrations cannot be doubted.

He said: “There can be no doubt that the political, social and economic landscape has been transformed under the PPP/C administration. Guyana today is a proud and respected member of the international community.

“As stated in the party’s political declaration which emanated from its last Congress, the PPP recognises, and is proud that, as a nation under successive PPP/C Governments, we have established a formidable record of improving the lives of thousands of people, in particular our children.

“To name only a few: providing the opportunity for the first time for thousands of ordinary men and women to own their own homes; for the first time thousands of Amerindian children are receiving secondary school education; providing thousands of laptops to low income households in one of the most innovative projects executed by a government in the world to reduce the digital divide and enhance equitable access to new technology.”

However, he acknowledged the remaining challenges that mark the political arena. “It behooves us all, moreso as elected representatives of the people, to put the national interest ahead of narrow partisan interests,” Rohee posited.

He echoed the contention of President Donald Ramotar, who said: “The important thing is how we move forward in resolving our positions. To move forward will call for maturity if we are to avoid gridlock and inertia. Political cooperation in the interest of the development of Guyana must exist.”
Written By Vanessa Narine