IT was expected that whatever unfolded during continuation of the 2012 budget discussions in the National Assembly yesterday, would unmistakably chart the new course ahead for our country and people as a whole.
It would be a make or break situation in which the future of the people including the children of this country would be decided by some men and women of dubious qualities.
Indeed situations of unprecedented proportions come to the fore when people of this nature seek to further use their clout against the human kind with total disregard for consequences.
The people note with interest the actions of the parliamentary opposition parties APNU and the AFC the past 72 hours, and are now beginning to better understand their political ambitions and the usage of their one-vote majority for egocentric purposes.
When one examines the happenings of the last 72 hours with regard to the opposition parties and the budget debate in parliament, one cannot escape the conclusion that both APNU and the AFC have treated the people of this country, including their constituents, with contempt.
The events that unfurled over the last days in the National Assembly give rise to the belief that the two opposition parties are merely synthetics, which seem to complement each other as their ride for vengeance.
The happenings during the last days of the budget debate in parliament are enough to deduce men from mice, and there is no doubt in our minds that this men and mice quality among the opposition parties really manifested itself when it seemed at one time that the budget would have enjoyed easy passage, but for a few minor adjustments.
But lo and behold, this was not to be, and throwing reasons and caution to the winds, APNU made a sudden somersault and reneged on its earlier position to support the budget.
A few minutes in bed with its opposition bedfellow the AFC have changed things dramatically and suddenly the two sweethearts are making unreasonable demands for further cuts in the national budget.
These demands have defied all the laws of reasonableness. They indeed serve to further expose the incongruous attitude of men and women of mice.
The Executive President and governing party have done everything possible to entertain the opposition so that both sides could come up with a workable document that would serve the interest of all the people of this country. And strange but true, when it seemed as if this was the path agreed upon by both sides, the opposition came one day later and changed its position which has left the entire country guessing.
It is therefore clear that whatever played out in parliament during yesterday’s sitting would certainly point the way forward for the people of this country. While we do not want to rush to conclusions, by their very actions, the intentions of the opposition are clear.
Since taking up the presidency in the early days following the last elections, President Ramotar had stated that he was not afraid to face the poll again. The opposition members believe that by withdrawing their support for the budget, they could open the way for a constitutional crisis. But when such a situation surfaces, the government would continue to remain in office for at least 90 days during which fresh elections should be called.
If we reach this stage, then it would be easier for the incumbents to win handsomely, since it was underscored that the majority of the people who did not go to the last polls because of complacency were all supporters of the PPP/C.
It is also likely more than ever that the two opposition parties may lose some support as the current experience as it pertains to the National Assembly would be an eye-cleaning one for the people. So any fresh election would be in favour of the incumbents.