As this nation marks its 47th  Independence Anniversary today, the  Government, headed by Executive President Donald Ramotar, faces some very stern challenges to avoid a repetition of the ruinous economic and social policies resulting from a quarter-century of divisive and corrupt rule by the People’s National Congress.

Those who are expediently inclined to forget how Guyana was reduced to one of the world’s poorest nations, and further downgraded to being among the highest indebted countries—in the face of endemic poverty, criminality and corruption that were painful realities–could well be jolted to once again witness such a dreaded visitation, should the APNU/AFC coalition continue with their politics of recklessly exploiting a one-seat majority in parliament.
Avoidance of those harsh, demeaning realities resulting from utter misrule by the PNC, that showed no remorse over making a mockery of electoral democracy and constitutional governance, requires careful monitoring and sober reflections by the vital stakeholders of this nation.
We have no doubt that, given their own awareness of the current immature, myopic and vindictive politics the APNU/AFC leadership are reflecting in parliament, the representatives of all credible stakeholder organizations would be aware for whom the proverbial bell will toll when the next general elections occurs, even if with a snap poll later this year, as some think is quite likely.  
For its part, the less-than-two-year-old administration  of President Ramotar has an obligation to boldly move, in the nation’s interest, to pursue new, creative initiatives as a last resort to preventing  Guyanese having to be rushed into a snap poll.
It is felt that at the core of such creative initiatives by the  President must be a serious commitment to preside over structured tripartite dialogue involving the PPP, APNU and AFC, at least once every three months, or as becomes urgently necessary.
Simultaneously, meetings involving top representatives of major stakeholder organizations like the Private Sector Commission, Chambers of Commerce and legitimate trade unions of the Labour Movement should also be considered as a regular quarterly agenda activity with the President.

Ideas and recommendations
Ideas or recommendations arising from such quarterly meetings could be shared, as is appropriate, and at the President’s discretion when he conducts the tripartite  dialogue involving the trio of parliamentary parties.
Likewise, some ideas from the President-initiated tripartite meetings — relevant to removal of prevailing political roadblocks in Guyana’s national interest — as distinct from pampering personal ego-driven agendas so often identified with the  Opposition,  in particular AFC elements, could be shared at the structured stakeholders meeting.
Perhaps when, as is likely, President Ramotar meets with representatives of the Private Sector Commission to discuss their anxiety for operationalising the Public Procurement and Integrity Commissions, it would be a good occasion to widen the discussion to include ideas such as structured quarterly consultations with stakeholders.
In the meantime, when Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, returns from participating in the current meeting of the  Caribbean Financial Action Task Force taking place in Nicaragua, we should officially learn,  if not before, whether the Guyana Government has succeeded in obtaining the requested extension for parliamentary approval of necessary amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing Terrorism Act that has been left to languish because of  cheap, myopic  horse-trading politicking favoured by the parliamentary opposition.
As Guyanese celebrate this 47th year of political independence, we return to our earlier stated appeal for new, creative bi-partisan initiatives that could prevent this nation having to return to the dark days of PNC ‘paramountcy’ misrule.
Those years were characterized by deep economic stagnation, social degradation, rampant criminality, rigged elections, widespread political repression and victimization. It is a past NOT to be resurrected, and which no amount of political chicanery; no displays of vindictive political behaviour in parliament can erase.
Our wish this independence anniversary is, therefore, for better days with more meaningful national unity and social and economic progress linked to new, creative cooperation initiatives by the Government and Opposition.