THE PSC needs to do more than organise an “Economic Summit” of key national stakeholders, in the hope of somehow getting the parties to act in Guyana’s best interest. The Opposition  already seems hesitant to the idea. Their aim is always to use every opportunity to achieve their basic agenda, which is their version of power sharing, not common ground. Constructive tripartite dialogue involving the three parties have already been tried and got nowhere. That is why the PSC and others in the economic summit must offer their own reasons, why a budget item or project is good for Guyana, and should be supported and funded. The summit should also express their own opinions on what could be the impact on Guyana’s dealings with the international community and prospective investors in the future, if some cuts were not restored.
 
Talking about how urgent and necessary it is for the government and opposition to cooperate in doing “everything possible” to find “common ground” is whistling in the dark.  As one labour leader stated, it might be time for public protests.
It is also time for the PSC and civil society to hear what is being said, ask and answer for themselves and the Guyana public and not who and what a party spokesman said were to blame in these meetings.
It is time to insist on having a real third-party presence at these so-called tripartite meetings. It is time for civil society to know and express their views directly and forcefully to the political party leaders.  Nothing less seems worthwhile. This stalemate requires civil society grown ups to stand up and act, and not try being a referee between opposing political leaders. If not you, who?