MPs across political divide commit to work together
MEMBERS of Parliament (MPs) from across the political divide have committed towards working together in the interest of Guyanese.
This commitment was one of the outcomes of a two-day training seminar, conducted for parliamentarians with the aim of improving themselves. At a media conference in the Savannah Suite of Pegasus Hotel, in Kingston, yesterday afternoon, Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr. Raphael Trotman pronounced that the forum was successful, since MPs were engaged in discussing ways of working together and fulfilling the theme ‘Managing through partnership’.
He said the partnership will go beyond political parties to the donor agencies, parliaments in the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and other agencies.
Trotman said, although there were tense moments, the training did achieve its objective. The programme was scheduled for next month but was brought forward due to the tension in the House after the conclusion of the 2012 Budget Debate.
He asked that the result of the discussions be seen with some level of optimism rather than cynicism and, consequently, was optimistic that the business of the House will now be conducted in a different way.
Veteran United Kingdom MP David Lammy referred to the situation of a minority government, noting that Guyana is not the only country in the world with such a dispensation.
He declared there is coalition across the world at this time.
NEW ARRANGEMENTS
During the sessions over the two days, parties were able to come together to discuss what partnership and collaboration mean under the new arrangements in the National Assembly.
Though Lammy is of the belief that partisanship will arise, he is hopeful that Guyana will progress through partnering among political parties.
Canada MP Devindra Shurry spoke of the willingness of the parties to work together, in the face of a minority government, noting that it was brought out by the issues which were discussed.
His colleague MP, Craig Whittaker expressed similar sentiments.
Aubrey Norton from a Partnership for National Unity (APNU), who also shared the head table, said that, during the process, there were some moments of “offensiveness and defensiveness”.
He said, under the new system, the Government should be seeking support from the Opposition.
“While a minority government should seek the initiatives and timings of the opposition, the opposition should not take advantage of the fact that they are a majority,” Norton advised.
Alliance For Change MP Moses Nagamootoo acknowledged the training was useful, adding that nothing will do Guyana better than acknowledging the will of the electorate.
He called for truth among parties and for them to allow the will of the people to settle, in order to have a sense of direction, believing that there has been a collective will of all the parties to work for the betterment of Guyana and put aside partisan politics.
Chief Whip of the Government side, Gail Teixeira, who was also part of the head table, concurred about the timeliness of the seminar. She made reference to the call by the Speaker to “tone down the rhetoric” and the Prime Minister’s to “step back and assess what is going on.”
GUYANESE FIRST
She told the media that, during the discussions, MPs recognised that, at the end of the day, they are Guyanese first and needed to serve the people, whether or not they voted for a particular party.
Teixeira confessed that the seminar “broke the ice” on what has been happening since the 2011 elections.
“However, we are still in unchartered waters as a parliament and will require political maturity,” she posited.
Resident Coordinator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Khadija Musa was in agreement, that the seminar was a success, as everyone has recognised the need to put their differences away and work together, as one people and one nation.
She pledged that UNDP will continue to work along with the Government and the Parliament to provide opportunities for MPs.
Among the topics covered on Monday were – ‘The relationship between the three branches of Government’; ‘Understanding collaborative leadership for national development’; ‘Collaborative leadership and bridge building’, and ‘The role of MPs.’
MPs were educated on Tuesday about majority/minority governance, parliamentary committees and financial scrutiny.