ON November 28, Guyanese went to the polls and voted to change the way business is conducted in this country. The majority have reposed their confidence in the opposition for the beginning of a new political culture towards the creation of a just society and this opportunity to make a difference must not be squandered. The GTUC, having followed the public discourse in arriving at an appropriate person to support for the Speakership has recognized the opposition’s departure from fundamental principles to create cohesiveness in arriving at a consensus candidate.
The nation is seeing a rallying around personalities rather than principles agreed upon by the parties and this stands the chance of derailing the entire process.
Based on the plurality of the opposition seats in parliament, it is expected that the Speaker of the House would be an opposition consensus candidate who can rise above the partisan flair to put Guyana first. Therefore, it is imperative that this first act of opposition collaboration be successful and amicably resolved without public rancour, or fanning of each group’s sentiments to create animosity; for even as this is done it gives other forces an avenue to fan the flames of mistrust and capitalize on the animosity being created.
Guyanese have suffered too much and too long. Haggling in the media takes the matter out of the parties’ management and gives fodder to persons and groups that do not share their objective which can also contribute to the derailment of the process.
The nation would derive positive benefits if the parties in the employment of the media seek to educate the society on the role and responsibilities of the Speaker, identifying the required qualifications of the person to perform this duty, since the 10th Parliament is expected to be the beginning of a new dispensation. For this act is not about any individual, it is about the people. 
The parties making demands on each other outside of the issues tabled for negotiation can be read as basic internal interference into the operations of another party.
Also, the issue of public demonstration is for a party, group or individual to determine consistent with their constitutional right, and it must be respected by one and all.
Note is taken of the AFC’s call for the demonstrators to come off the streets while they are pursuing self- determination, even though the AFC prior to the elections was in the streets demonstrating against similar issues and this right was respected.
The public calls and threats by either party for their candidate to be accepted must be seen as unfortunate in the absence of clear negotiating principles and we urge the parties to return to the bargaining table with the clear understanding that the Speakership cannot be developed around a person, it has to be premised on principles that are embraced by the respective groups, after which all will examine the candidates to find the one most appropriate to fill the position.
According to the law, the person who fills the position of Speaker will have to be elected. He or she must therefore be seen as having the confidence of the majority of the group. Similarly, the Leader of the Opposition will have to be elected from the members of the combined opposition. As such, what is required is a clear understanding and appreciation of the laws and creating methodology around same which ought to be embraced in arriving at consensual candidates.  
Society is clearly rejecting the Machiavellian mode from our leaders, just as they have done in our political landscape. The message to send to this nation and the world is that there is a new dispensation in our politics from the last elections and that change is not just an electoral gimmick and sound bites, but a culture we must all embrace as we move away from the negatives of the past. Change must be manifest in the opposition negotiations to select a Speaker for the House.