President Donald Ramotar, despite having his patience  stretched to the limit  by the opposition’s extreme, Provocative and dangerous  act  of  budget cuts that threaten the employment continuity of hundreds of state employees, and  the concomitant  likelihood of aborting many national development programmes,  true patriot and servant of the people that he is, is still insisting on dialogue as the only way forward as a means of resolving the current impasse. He, again, offered  this opportunity  during his recent telecast to the nation.
This has been his stated position from the moment of ascending the presidency, all through to the recent anti-national actions by the parliamentary opposition.
Such  executive actions  are in keeping with those of a wise leader, who understands the imperatives of continuity of governance, taking all the necessary steps to deal with situations that threaten the national socio-economic fabric of the nation.
Though the  intended meeting between  President Ramotar  and leader of the opposition, David Granger, was  about the very important aspect of discussions on constitutional positions and offices, it would have   presented yet  another  golden opportunity that ought not to be squandered by the latter.
Granger, particularly, must understand that  he holds a constitutional  office that makes him an important national leader; and, therefore,  he is part of any equation  that goes towards solving any problem  that confronts this nation. He has a shared responsibility which he is expected to exercise  in the national interest, and not for narrow ends.
It must be noted that these constitutional talks are on offices that cover almost every aspect of national life, and  are going to test Granger’s  commitment to the national cause, and how much he understands the position as to where this nation now stands, and what it takes to arrive at consensual positions on very important issues, the final outcome of which must  benefit the nation and its people.
This is not a time for any  show of strength or any such power play associated with destructive politics. The only losers as a result of such recklessness will be the people, inclusive of his own  constituents.
David Granger, is therefore expected to rise to the stature befitting that of a responsible,  national leader.